The Ministry of Education has launched urgent investigations into fresh allegations of bribery linked to the ongoing school placement process following reports involving the Member of Parliament for Akrofuom, Joseph Azumah.
The MP is reported to have disclosed that an individual approached him at Community 16, seeking assistance to secure school placement for a child. According to Mr. Azumah, the individual later returned with evidence indicating that GHC30,000 had been paid to facilitate the placement.
“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 GHC30,000 to secure the placement. Why are we doing this to ourselves?” Mr. Azumah lamented.
In response, the Ministry said it views these allegations and similar ones recently made by the Secretary of the Construction and Building Workers’ Union of the Ghana Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr. Richard Asamoah Mensah, with “utmost seriousness and concern.”
A press statement issued and signed by the Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Clement Apaak, confirmed that the Minister for Education has convened a meeting with National Security and formally referred the allegations for urgent and thorough investigation.
“The Ministry wishes to assure the public that it is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and fairness in the school placement process. Any individual found to have engaged in acts of bribery, extortion, or manipulation of the Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) will face the full rigours of the law,” the statement read.
The Ministry also called on Hon. Azumah, Mr. Mensah, and any other individuals with credible evidence to cooperate with National Security to aid the investigations.
According to the statement, this collaborative approach is crucial in uncovering the truth and ensuring accountability in the placement process.
The Ministry reaffirmed its resolve to safeguard the integrity of the Computerized School Selection and Placement System, stressing that access to secondary education in Ghana must remain “free, fair, and merit-based for every Ghanaian child.”
