The Ghana Education Service (GES) has issued an urgent warning to teacher recruitment applicants following reports that scammers are calling successful candidates and demanding money in exchange for keeping their approved status, cautioning the public that no such payment can alter the outcome of the official recruitment exercise.
Daniel Fenyi, Head of Public Relations at GES, disclosed the emerging scam in a public statement, revealing that he had personally received a distress call from an applicant who was told to pay GH₵13,000 or risk having their “successful” status changed to “unsuccessful.”
According to Fenyi, the incident came to light after a successful applicant reached out to him in panic, having been contacted by an unknown caller threatening to alter their recruitment status unless the demanded sum was paid.
Fenyi said he suspects the scam is not isolated to this single case, warning that other successful applicants may have already received similar threats, or could still receive them in the coming days. He added that even applicants who were not selected in the current exercise could become targets of scammers claiming their status might still be altered for a fee.
GES Insists Status Cannot Be Changed for Money
Fenyi was unequivocal in stating that no individual or unofficial caller has the power to alter an applicant’s recruitment outcome, explaining that the results displayed on the recruitment portal are drawn directly from an official master list maintained by the Service.
“The results you see on the portal is backed by an official master list. If somebody defrauds you to pay money, and even change your status online, the master list will still not have your name.”
Daniel Fenyi
He stressed that regardless of what a scammer may claim or even appear to do to an applicant’s status on unofficial channels, the underlying master list used by GES remains the definitive record, meaning a successful applicant’s position cannot be reversed by any external party, paid or otherwise.
Official Communication Channels Identified
To help applicants distinguish legitimate updates from fraudulent contact, Fenyi outlined the specific channels through which GES will communicate every subsequent step of the recruitment process. He listed these as the Ghana Education Service itself, his own official communications, and district or regional education offices once the master list has been formally dispatched to them.
By narrowing down the official channels to these three sources, Fenyi’s statement effectively puts applicants on notice that any recruitment-related call, text or demand originating outside these platforms should be treated with suspicion, regardless of how convincing or urgent it may sound.
A Timeline for Unsuccessful Applicants
Fenyi also addressed the concerns of applicants who did not make the current list of successful candidates, assuring them that another recruitment window remains on the horizon. He indicated that the next opportunity is expected to open in approximately four months, around November, giving unsuccessful applicants a fresh chance to reapply within the same recruitment year.
A Call to Expose the Scammers
Beyond warning applicants to disregard fraudulent calls, Fenyi went further to enlist the public’s help in tracking down those behind the scheme, urging affected individuals to report and publicly expose any scammers who attempt to extort them.
“Please, when you receive those ‘scam’ calls, kindly trace and arrest them. Put their names and contact numbers on all your social media platforms. Support us to expose them.”
Daniel Fenyi
The appeal suggests GES is leaning on collective public vigilance and social media exposure as an immediate deterrent, even as questions remain over what formal investigative or law enforcement action might follow once such scammers are identified.
A Reminder That Recruitment Is Free
Fenyi closed his statement by reiterating a point the Service has previously made public, reminding applicants that no financial inducement is required at any stage of the recruitment process. He confirmed that any form of monetisation surrounding GES recruitment officially ended on 7th December, 2024, reinforcing that any request for payment tied to recruitment outcomes has no legitimate basis whatsoever.
With the scam actively targeting both successful and unsuccessful applicants, GES is urging the public to remain calm, verify all recruitment updates strictly through its official channels, and resist any pressure to make payments regardless of how the request is framed.
Applicants who receive suspicious calls or messages are being encouraged to report them promptly, both to help protect themselves and to support ongoing efforts to identify and expose those responsible for the scheme.
READ MORE: Traditional Herbal Practitioners Call on Government to Expand Herbal Medicine Access
