Allegations of bribery have once again rattled Ghana’s Computerized School Placement System (CSSPS), raising fresh concerns about integrity and fairness in the country’s education placement process.
The accusation comes from within the labour front, as the General Secretary of the Construction and Building Materials Workers Union (CBMWU), Richard Asamoah, exposes what he describes as a “bribery syndicate” manipulating placements for money.
According to Mr. Asamoah, certain officers within the CSSPS are demanding huge sums from parents to illegally repost their children to preferred schools. He reported that the amounts range between GHS 20,000 and GHS 35,000 – a price tag he insists is unjustifiable and exploitative.
“I have evidence of some of these things. Some parents have confided in me but are afraid to come forward. But I believe we can’t keep quiet about it. I urge the Honourable Minister of Education to take a serious look at this”
Richard Asamoah, General Secretary of CBMWU
The union leader added that the practice is not only eroding fairness in the placement system, with qualified students being denied access to schools they merit due to corruption, but confidence in Ghanaian institutions, further dampening the spirits and morals of the people.
“Paying such an amount just to change a child’s school placement is not right. These are children who have qualified and passed, yet their right to access their preferred schools is being denied. If we don’t address this, it could become worse than galamsey”
Richard Asamoah, General Secretary of CBMWU
CBMWU, an affiliate of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), says it is ready to support a full-scale probe as Mr. Asamoah indicated that he is prepared to testify before any investigative body set up by the Ministry of Education.
“People are suffering for no reason. If a committee wants to meet me, I am ready to come forward and speak out,” he assured, making known his willingness to help expose the rot in the system – the corrupt officials perpetrating these crimes.
Ministry Denies Allegations
Responding to the allegations, the Press Secretary to the Minister of Education, Hashmin Mohammed, confirmed that the Ministry has taken note of the claims and plans to engage the union leader for further clarification.
“There have been some formulated conspiratorial allegations seeking to paint the BECE placement system as one that is for sale. We want to reiterate: the placement system is not for sale”
Hashmin Mohammed, Press Secretary to the Minister of Education
He further encouraged parents and the general public to report any attempt by Ministry officials or a third party to solicit bribes for placements. “Report them to the Ministry, the nearest police station, or the Office of the Special Prosecutor,” he said.
While affirming the Ministry’s commitment to transparency and accountability, Mr. Mohammed emphasized that the lack of direct evidence has hindered previous investigations into similar allegations.
“But if Mr. Asamoah can provide evidence, we will gladly engage him. We’ve been looking for just such information to hold someone accountable and deter others,” he explained, stressing that the CSSPS remains a merit-based system and that the Ministry will not tolerate any act of corruption that undermines its credibility.
Calls for Accountability
The CSSPS, introduced to ensure fairness and eliminate human interference in school admissions, has faced repeated criticism in recent years. From technical glitches to persistent allegations of favoritism and bribery, the system has struggled to retain public confidence.
The Ministry of Education has since announced that it is opening channels for parents and guardians to report suspicious activities during the ongoing placement period. The Ministry’s move is seen as part of efforts to reassure the public that corruption will not be tolerated in the education sector under President John Dramani Mahama’s administration.
Education stakeholders are also calling for comprehensive reforms to make the placement process more transparent and tamper-proof. Many say that without bold action, public trust in the system could further erode.
The Ministry insists that investigations are underway and promises to act decisively should the allegations be proven true. For now, the spotlight remains on the CSSPS – a system meant to ensure equality of opportunity, but now once again battling accusations of corruption and manipulation.
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