The Ministry of Education has taken note of recent media reports regarding bribery in the school placement process, with specific reference to remarks attributed to the Member of Parliament for Akrofuom, Joseph Azumah.
According to the reports, Mr Azumah stated: “Someone who knew I was an MP came to me at Community 16, where I live, and asked me to help their child gain admission to a certain school. Within a week, the person came back with evidence showing that they had paid GH¢30,000 to secure the placement. Why are we doing this to ourselves?”
The Ministry said it views these allegations with the utmost seriousness and concern.
Similar concerns have also been raised by Mr Richard Asamoah Mensah, Secretary of the Construction and Building Workers’ Union of the Ghana Trade Union Congress (TUC).
In response, the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has done the following:
• Convened a meeting with National Security.
• Formally referred the matter for urgent and thorough investigation.
A spokesperson from the Ministry noted that, “We are deeply troubled by these allegations and are taking immediate steps to establish the facts. Integrity and fairness are the bedrock of the school placement system, and we will not tolerate any form of manipulation or corruption.”
The Ministry further assured the public of its unwavering commitment to upholding transparency, accountability, and merit-based placement in the Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).
“Any individual found to have engaged in bribery, extortion, or interference with the placement process will face the full rigours of the law,” the Ministry emphasized.
The Ministry is also calling on Mr Joseph Azumah, Mr. Richard Asamoah Mensah, and any other individuals with credible evidence to fully cooperate with National Security to support the ongoing investigations.
“This is a shared responsibility. We urge anyone with information to come forward. Ensuring a just and fair placement process is in the national interest,” the statement concluded.
The Ministry of Education remains resolute in its mission to protect the integrity of the school placement process and ensure that every Ghanaian child has access to secondary education based on merit—not money or influence.
