TEIN denies 'Better Ghana laptops'

The tertiary wing of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the Kumasi Polytechnic has denied rumours that its members have received 'Better Ghana Laptops' from the Ministry of Environment Science and Technology (MEST).

The Tertiary Education Institutions Network of the NDC says the allegations that members of the network have been given free laptops by the government as part of efforts at enhancing science and technology development through practical learning Information and Communication Technology are totally false and unfounded.

Members of the Tertiary Education Student Confederacy of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) (TESCON), last week, alleged that the government of the NDC was secretly distributing rlg laptops to some students who are sympathetic to their cause at the Kumasi Polytechnic, and mentioned members of TEIN as direct beneficiaries of the largesse.

The opposition party alleged in a statement issued in Kumasi last week that the Ministry of Environment Science and Technology had given an unspecified number of laptops to the President of TEIN-K-Poly campus, Jeremiah Peter Acheampong, to be distributed to members of the NDC group on campus.

But, TEIN executives at Kumasi Polytechnic have flatly denied knowledge of the said arrangement, and are accusing their colleagues on the other side of the political divide of a deliberate ploy to tarnish the image of the government, under President John Evans Atta Mills.

Briefing the media in reaction to the allegations, the K-Poly TEIN President noted that what he and his members were aware was that there was a publication in both the DAILY GRAPHIC and the GHANAIAN TIMES, inviting applications from senior high school and tertiary students to apply to the Ministry of Science and Technology for a free Better Ghana Laptop, under a collaboration between government of Ghana and rlg Ghana Limited.

He said, to the best of their understanding, the project was a national policy by the government to boost ICT in tertiary and senior high schools, and is said to be open to every Ghanaian student, provided he or she falls within the academic range.

The TEIN President said in response to the advertisement in the two national dailies, some students on campus subsequently, applied to the ministry, and fortunately, got their applications approved.

According to him, the qualified beneficiaries were yet to take possession of their laptops when they got information that TESCON members on campus were displaying posters to the effect that the government had given laptops to TEIN members.

Peter Acheampong said the behaviour of TESCON smacked of deceit and deliberate attempts to malign the government and President Mills.

He noted that the free laptop project was open to every Ghanaian, irrespective of one's political affiliation, and that previous beneficiaries included TESCON members.

The TEIN President, therefore, challenged his colleagues of the NPP to show evidence of the alleged complicity of the government in the distribution of the laptops.