500 buses not for votes - Ablakwa

The presentation of 500 buses to various educational institutions in the country by President John Mahama was not for political capital, explains a Deputy Education Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

Mr Mahama on Tuesday June 14 donated 300 buses and 200 pick-ups to selected senior high schools, technical/vocational schools, special schools, polytechnics, private universities, public universities, colleges of education, and directorates of education in newly-created districts, a gesture Mr Ablakwa tweeted to say was in line with the president’s quest to “invest” in education and “empower the next generation”.

The bus donations come a few months to the November 7 presidential and parliamentary polls, fuelling suspicions that it was a vote-buying move. But Mr Ablakwa, also an MP for North Tongu, said it was only by happenstance that it happened this year.

“I will not agree with anyone who says so because the Ministry of Education’s timetable requires that buses are supplied to schools every four years. The last one we did was in 2012, the other time was in 2008 under President Kufuor. So, I will say it is just a coincidence that it is done within an election year. I do not see how these vehicles will necessarily bring you votes,” he told Chief Jerry Forson on Accra100.5FM’s morning show, Ghana Yensom, Wednesday June 15.

He argued that looking at the major beneficiaries (students), not all would attain voting age by the time the elections happen in November, adding: “…The buses are not for the individuals but for the institutions, and “I do not see how this will influence anyone’s decision.”

The deputy minister assured host Chief Jerry Forson that officials at the Education Ministry knew very well the sensitivity surrounding issues of education for which reason it would never allow political infiltration.

“So, when executing our assignments, we do not consider politics because education is a very serious national matter where you just have to be scientific and objective the way you roll out these interventions, and electoral advantages do not feature in our calculations in terms of how we do the allocations or the timing for these allocations,” he said.