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Former President and Presidential candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has been criticized for saying government's free tablet distribution is a vote-buying tactic.

Mahama underscored the neglect of essential ongoing educational projects due to the government’s focus on distributing tablets while stressing the importance of prioritizing.

“You bring a new curriculum, the children have no textbooks in basic school for the last four years and you think that giving pre-tertiary students tablets is more important. Of course, everybody knows the political expediency. The pre-tertiary students are going to register in May because some of them will be turning 18 years and above, some are 18 already and they are going to be the ones voting. So this is a gift to entice them to vote for the current government" he indicated during a special public lecture at the Wisconsin International University College.

“Otherwise, if you are using GH¢1.3 billion to give pre-tertiary students laptops, our priority would have been different. Other things are begging for funding in our educational system than those laptops. But it is a bribe for them to vote for this government” he added.

STC CEO, Nana Akomea speaking in reaction denounced Mahama's statement saying it's not befitting of a former President.

"It can be difficult to understand politicians sometimes. The government has decided to distribute tablets to students to make learning easier for them, which is what kids of today use. However, John Mahama is claiming that this is a tactic to buy votes. It's beyond comprehension why politicians resort to such tactics. Interestingly, when Mahama was President, he had made a similar promise to distribute laptops. Does this mean that the government cannot do anything during an election year? Mahama's behavior is inappropriate and unbecoming of a former President" he said on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo'

Listen to him in the video below