ACCRA — The Ministry of Education has issued a stern warning to parents and guardians, urging them not to pay anyone claiming to secure a senior high school (SHS) placement for their children through the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS). The directive, announced by Deputy Minister of Education Dr. Clement Apaak, aims to curb fraudulent schemes exploiting families during the highly competitive placement season following the 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
“Placement is free. Do not pay money to anyone who claims he/she can help you with placement. Anyone who demands money in exchange for placement is a fraudster and should be reported to the police immediately,” Dr. Apaak declared in a statement dated September 16, 2025. The warning comes as thousands of students await their SHS assignments under the CSSPS, a digital platform launched in 2005 to streamline admissions and reduce human interference. With over 500,000 candidates sitting the BECE annually, the system allocates students to Ghana’s 700+ public senior high schools based on merit, choice, and available slots.
Scams targeting anxious parents have surged in recent years, fueled by the high stakes of securing spots in top-tier schools like Achimota, Wesley Girls, or Prempeh College. Fraudsters, often posing as education officials or tech insiders, demand payments—ranging from GH¢500 to GH¢5,000—for promised placements, exploiting gaps in public awareness. Ghana’s free SHS policy, introduced in 2017 under former President Nana Akufo-Addo and continued under President John Dramani Mahama, covers tuition, boarding, and meals, making such schemes particularly deceptive. The policy, while transformative, has strained school capacity, intensifying competition and creating fertile ground for fraud.
Dr. Apaak’s statement aligns with broader efforts to ensure transparency in education under Mahama’s “Reset Ghana” agenda, which emphasizes equitable access amid a 4.5% GDP growth and cooling inflation at 11.5%. The Ministry has bolstered CSSPS with verification portals and helplines, allowing parents to check placements directly at cssps.gov.gh or via USSD code 800055#. “The process is merit-based and automated. No one can manipulate it for money,” Apaak reiterated, urging reports of scams to the Ghana Police Service’s cybercrime unit.
The Ministry’s push reflects a commitment to fairness, but as Apaak noted, “Vigilance is key—parents must protect their hard-earned money.” As placements roll out, Ghana’s education system stands at a crossroads, balancing access with integrity to secure its youth’s future.
