Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Clement Abas Apaak, has issued a firm warning to parents, guardians and candidates that the Senior High School placement process is entirely free, cautioning the public against paying money to anyone claiming to be able to secure or change a placement on their behalf.
Speaking during an engagement with the media, Dr Apaak used the opportunity to send what he described as a very clear message to parents, guardians, candidates and the general public regarding the integrity of this year’s placement exercise, following the release of the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) placement results.
Dr Apaak was emphatic that no legitimate protocol within the placement system requires the payment of money, regardless of who is making the request.
He stressed that individuals claiming to be officials of the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service, or any other affiliated body, including intermediaries or third parties, have no legitimate authority to demand payment in exchange for securing or altering a student’s placement.
“There is no legitimate protocol for placement that requires payment of money, placement is determined by established criteria, candidates’ choices, programme requirements and available vacancies.”
Dr Clement Abas Apaak
Public Directed to Official Channels
To safeguard the public against exploitation, Dr Apaak encouraged parents, guardians and candidates to rely exclusively on official communication channels and designated resolution centres for any placement-related enquiries, rather than engaging with unverified individuals or intermediaries claiming to offer assistance.
He reiterated that the Ministry has established dedicated placement resolution centres, including a central facility in Accra and additional centres at the regional level, specifically to handle legitimate concerns or discrepancies arising from the placement exercise.
Significant Milestone in Students’ Educational Journey
Beyond addressing concerns over fraud, Dr Apaak reflected on the broader significance of the transition from basic to secondary education, describing it as an important stage in the educational journey of every young Ghanaian.
He reminded the public that behind every statistic released as part of the placement exercise lies an individual young person with aspirations, abilities and a future that government holds a collective responsibility to support.
“Behind every statistic we have presented here today is a young Ghanaian with aspirations, abilities and a future we have a collective responsibility to support,”
Dr Clement Abas Apaak
On behalf of the Minister for Education and the Government of Ghana, Dr Apaak extended heartfelt congratulations to all candidates who participated in the 2026 BECE, with particular recognition for the more than 527,000 candidates successfully placed into the country’s secondary education system so far.
Vision for an Equitable Education System
Looking beyond the immediate placement exercise, Dr Apaak outlined government’s broader ambition for Ghana’s secondary education system, describing the ultimate objective as building a system in which every school becomes a school of choice, every learner has a genuine pathway to progress, and no Ghanaian child is denied the opportunity to develop their full potential.
He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring that future placement exercises remain fair, transparent, credible and accessible, while providing appropriate pathways for candidates across all categories, including those who did not qualify for automatic placement under the standard criteria.
Dr Apaak closed his address with well wishes for the country’s students and its education system, extending blessings for Ghana’s students, its educational system and the nation as a whole, bringing to a close a briefing that combined a strong anti-fraud warning with a broader reflection on the significance of the ongoing placement exercise for the country’s young people.
READ MORE: 87.3% Of Qualified BECE Candidates Placed — Dr Apaak
