Education Ministry refers alleged GH¢30,000 school placement bribery to National Security
By Praisebell Rosemond Larbi
The Ministry of Education has referred recent allegations of bribery and manipulation in the ongoing Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) to the National Security Secretariat for urgent investigation, amid growing public concern over suspected corruption in school placements.
The decision follows media reports quoting Joseph Azumah, Member of Parliament (MP) for Akrofuom, who claimed that a constituent had paid GHS30,000 to secure a placement for their child in a preferred senior high school.
“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 GHS30,000 to secure the placement. Why are we doing this to ourselves?” the MP bemoaned.
The Ministry said the allegations, along with similar claims made by Mr Richard Asamoah Mensah, Secretary of the Construction and Building Workers’ Union of the Ghana Trades Union Congress, are grave and deeply concerning.
In response, the Minister for Education convened a high-level meeting with National Security officials and officially referred the matter for a comprehensive investigation to uncover any wrongdoing within the school placement process.
“The Ministry views these allegations with the utmost seriousness and concern. Any individual found to have engaged in acts of bribery, extortion, or manipulation of the CSSPS will face the full rigours of the law,” a statement from the Education Ministry noted.
The Ministry has urged Mr Azumah, Mr Asamoah Mensah and other individuals with credible evidence to cooperate fully with National Security operatives to assist in the investigation.
“This collaborative effort is essential to uncover the truth and ensure accountability,” it stated.
Reaffirming its stance on integrity and fairness, the Ministry stressed that access to secondary education must remain merit-based and free from undue influence, emphasising its zero-tolerance policy for corruption in the placement process.
