The Ghana Education Service (GES) has cautioned Senior High Schools (SHSs) across the country to desist from the illegal sale of school uniforms and the collection of unauthorised fees as first-year students begin reporting to school.
Mr Luke Mensah, Bono Regional Public Relations Officer of the GES, said it was unlawful for any SHS to sell uniforms to fresh students, urging parents and guardians to be vigilant and report such practices to the GES for prompt action.
The warning follows complaints from some parents in the Bono and Ahafo Regions, who alleged that certain schools were demanding additional payments from freshers under the pretext of purchasing mower machines, despite the official prospectus listing cutlasses as the required tool for maintaining school compounds.
Get the latest news, updates by joining our WhatsApp channel here: Join on WhatsApp.
Some parents also alleged that certain SHSs had created extra lists of items beyond the approved prospectus, further increasing the financial burden on families. “Even besides the prospectus, some of the schools have another list of items for the students to buy,” one concerned parent told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) anonymously.
Responding to these concerns, Mr Mensah described the alleged conduct as unfortunate and unacceptable, stressing that the GES is solely responsible for supplying uniforms to newly admitted students.
“We thank you for the information, and we are going to investigate for the perpetrators to be brought to book,” he assured.
Meanwhile, a visit by the GNA to the Sunyani Senior High School (SUSEC) revealed that admissions were progressing smoothly, with several students and parents reporting no incidents of uniform sales.
Mr Gordon Osei Marfo, Headmaster of SUSEC, confirmed that the school had admitted 1,342 fresh students and was awaiting the official supply of uniforms from the GES.
The GES has reiterated its commitment to ensuring equitable access and transparency in the Free Senior High School programme and warned that any head of school found extorting money or engaging in unauthorised sales will face disciplinary sanctions.
