Kofi Asare Sounds Alarm on PTA Extortion at Some SHSs

Education advocate Kofi Asare has raised serious concerns about what he describes as growing extortion in some Senior High Schools (SHSs) across the country, warning that the practice is putting undue financial pressure on struggling parents.

In a Facebook post that has since generated widespread public reaction, the executive director of Africa Education Watch lamented that certain SHSs are charging parents as much as GHC 600 in the name of Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) dues during admissions. He described the situation as “too much” and questioned the Ghana Education Service (GES) for what he sees as its silence and inaction on the matter.

“The extortion in the name of PTA is just too much. Eiii! Some SHSs charging poor parents up to GHC 600 during admission. PTA Guidelines is set aside. Where’s Ghana Education Service?” Asare posted.

The remark has sparked conversations about how PTAs, originally established to support schools through voluntary contributions, are now being used by some institutions as a tool to impose compulsory charges on parents. Many commentators agree that the problem is particularly worrying in a time of economic hardship, where even basic educational costs are a burden for many households.

Education analysts say the GES has clear guidelines on how PTA levies should be approved and collected, typically requiring prior approval by the Director-General before any fee is charged. However, enforcement remains weak. Several parents have in recent weeks shared similar experiences, reporting that schools often demand these payments before completing their wards’ admission process, effectively making them mandatory.

Critics argue that this practice undermines the principles of the Free Senior High School policy, which was designed to remove cost barriers and ensure access to education for all Ghanaian children. Some have called on the Ministry of Education and the GES to conduct immediate investigations and sanction any head of school found to be violating the rules.

Asare’s statement adds to growing pressure on the education authorities to act. His organisation, Africa Education Watch, has over the years been instrumental in exposing systemic weaknesses within Ghana’s education sector, including procurement breaches, teacher absenteeism, and school feeding challenges.

For now, parents and education stakeholders are awaiting an official response from the GES. But one thing is clear: the debate over PTA charges has once again brought to the fore the urgent need for transparency, accountability, and fairness in how Ghana’s public schools are managed.