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Member of Parliament (MP) for Sekondi constituency, Andrew Kofi Egyapa Mercer has slammed the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) over their criticisms regarding the reopening of schools in the country.

The NDC was opposed to President Nana Akufo-Addo's directive that schools should reopen for final year students to prepare for their examinations.

The party argued that the President was exposing the students to the COVID-19 pandemic and further held it was also a strategy by him to garner votes from the students for re-election during the Presidential elections this year.

The criticisms became intense when some of the students in the Junior and Senior High Schools contracted the disease but eventually recovered and joined their colleagues back in school.

Over 300000 students are writing their WASSCE irrespective of the pandemic, however there are  precautionary measures to protect the students.

The NDC as well as other critics described President Akufo-Addo as insensitive and advised him to take cues from Ghana's neighbouring country, Nigeria.

The Nigerian government refused to open schools in the country.

Nigeria's Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu is quoted as saying not even the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) will be allowed to determine the resumption date of schools for Nigeria and that he preferred the students lose the academic year than get exposed to the disease.

But according to Hon. Egyapa Mercer, the NDC's agenda against President Akufo-Addo has backfired.

This is because, he explained, the Nigerian government has made a u-turn asking the students to return to their classrooms to sit for the final examinations.

Hon. Egyapa Mercer noted that the decision by the Nigerian government has been taken at a late hour which means the students were not given an ample time to study for the exams.

But contrary to what Nigeria has done to their students, he argued, Mr. Akufo-Addo on the other hand being a sensitive and considerate President allowed students in the country to go back to their schools earlier so they can adequately prepare themselves for their exams.

Speaking to sit-in host Nana Yaw Kesseh on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo', he stressed that the NDC can no more deceive Ghanaians.

"Everybody knows that you're singing your chorus to try and hoodwink Ghanaians, so nobody wants to support you in your hideous crime."

He also pointed out the nation's elders like Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II keep acknowledging President Akufo-Addo because of his good works which is to tell the NDC and political opponents of the Akufo-Addo administration that the President and his government are on the right track.

"Discerning elders of this country are watching  . . They can decipher fact from fiction and commend where appropriate and condemn where necessary," he said.