North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says that the one laptop per SHS student program being proposed by the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, will cost the government some GH¢1.4 billion.
In a tweet on Thursday, Mr. Ablakwa argued that given the depleted state of the GETFund, the laptop per student program is going to create another stream of financial crisis for the government, which, according to him, is already struggling.
“Vice President Bawumia has apparently created another crisis for his government with Free Laptops for SHS students as government struggles to finance the latest Veep’s wish list”, he stated.
Mr. Ablakwa further observed that the free laptop program is responsible for the unprecedented delay in the submission of the 2023 formula for the GETFund, which he said currently has an expected allocation of GH¢200 million.
“With the NHIS and DACF Formulae approved by parliament much earlier, thus before the Easter break, the current troubling situation represents the longest period it has taken for a GETFund formula to be Presented to Parliament by any government since the GETFund was established by the NDC in the year 2000.”
“Insiders say Bawumia’s free laptop promise will cost government at least GHS1.4billion, after 6 years of mismanaging the GETFund, only some GHS200million is expected to be available in the fund this year”, the MP added.
Mr. Ablakwa bemoaned the harsh financial implications of the laptop program amidst the government’s already pressing financial needs, citing outstanding obligations to contractors, SHS food suppliers, and textbook companies, among others.
Background
Speaking at the 60th anniversary of EP Senior High School in Hohoe, Dr. Bawumia promised that the government will give all senior high schools (SHSs) laptop computers with built-in textbooks for the upcoming academic year.
The Vice-President added that the program would expose the beneficiary students to the new world of data, contemporary systems, and advances, in addition to saving the nation the enormous sum of money spent on textbook printing.
