News
Ministry of education probes alleged bribery in school placement process
The Ministry of Education has launched urgent investigations into allegations of bribery linked to the ongoing school placement process.
This follows media reports quoting the Member of Parliament for Akrofuom, Joseph Azumah, who claimed that a resident approached him for help in securing school admission and later returned with proof of having paid GH¢30,000 to secure the placement.
“Someone who knew I was an MP came to me at Community 16, where I live, and asked me to help their child gain admission to a certain school. Within a week, the person came back with evidence showing that they had paid GH¢30,000 to secure the placement. Why are we doing this to ourselves?,” the MP was quoted as saying.
In a statement issued on October 22, 2025, and signed by Dr. Clement Apaak, Deputy Minister for Education, the Ministry described the allegations as serious and worrying. It said the Minister for Education has met with National Security and referred the matter for urgent and thorough investigation.
The Ministry mentioned that similar concerns had earlier been raised by Mr. Richard Asamoah Mensah, Secretary of the Construction and Building Workers’ Union of the Trades Union Congress (TUC).
The statement assured the public that the Ministry was committed to upholding integrity, transparency, and fairness in the Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).
It warned that anyone found guilty of bribery, extortion, or manipulation of the system would face the full force of the law.
The Ministry further called on Joseph Azumah, Mr. Richard Asamoah Mensah, and other individuals with credible information to cooperate with investigators to ensure accountability.
According to the Ministry, it remains firm in its commitment to protect the integrity of the placement process and to make sure that access to secondary education in Ghana remains free, fair, and based on merit.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Mrs Patience Antonio, a Child and Family Development Advocate, has called for a national campaign to reduce the growing reliance on breast milk substitutes among nursing mothers in Ghana.
According to Mrs Antonio, scientific evidence shows that breastfeeding improves a child’s emotional stability, boosts intelligence, strengthens the immune system, and provides long-term health benefits. She made these remarks in an interview with The Spectator in Accra last week, emphasizing the importance of breastfeeding for a child’s overall development.
She explained that breastfeeding is not just a biological act of feeding but a key emotional and developmental bridge between mother and child. She also highlighted the need for the recommended six-month maternity leave period to ease the pressure on mothers to return to work prematurely.
“Breastfeeding creates intimacy and trust. It assures the baby of love and security, which becomes the foundation for their emotional health,” Mrs Antonio noted, warning that abandoning exclusive breastfeeding could have long-term implications on children’s social and emotional wellbeing.
Consequently, she called for a minimum of five months of fully paid maternity leave for Ghanaian mothers to enable effective breastfeeding, bonding, and healthier child development. She also urged workplaces to implement family-friendly policies, including private spaces for breastfeeding, flexible working arrangements for nursing mothers, and stronger support systems for new parents.
Mrs Antonio further encouraged families and society to actively support mothers during breastfeeding, stressing that many women struggle due to lack of assistance at home or the pressure to return to work too soon. She emphasized, “If we want a healthier, emotionally stable generation, then we must make breastfeeding a priority and support mothers to do it without stress.”
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
Spectator
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The Nanvili Community School in the Mion District of the Northern Region is facing severe infrastructural challenges, affecting teaching and learning for pupils in the area.
The school, which serves five surrounding communities with a total of 58 pupils, has deteriorated to the extent that many children have stopped attending classes. Poor classroom conditions and the lack of desks have made teaching and learning difficult. During a visit to the school, the gate-free classrooms were found filled with goat and sheep droppings.
During the rainy season, both teachers and pupils are often cut off from the school due to bad roads and flooding. Teaching activities are frequently suspended for weeks, negatively affecting academic performance.
The Assemblyman for the area, Mr. Dawuni Mutawakil, expressed concern, noting that the situation is worrying since these pupils are expected to compete with their counterparts in urban areas who have access to better facilities. He added that due to limited space, classes have been merged, with pupils from Primary One and Two, Three and Four, and Five and Six sharing the same classrooms.
The Chief of Nanvili, Abu Kassim, also appealed to the government and non-governmental organisations to come to the aid of the community. He emphasized that the current state of the school discourages children from nearby communities from attending.
Both the Chief and Assemblyman have called for urgent intervention to improve infrastructure and provide furniture for the pupils to ensure quality education for children in the Nanvili area.
By Geoffrey Buta, Nanvili, Northern Region
Spectator
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