Allegations of corruption are once again casting a dark shadow over Ghanaโs Computerized School Placement System (CSSPS). This time, itโs coming from within the labour front.
The General Secretary of the Construction and Building Materials Workers Union (CBMWU), Richard Asamoah, is calling out what he describes as a โbribery syndicateโ operating within the placement system.
Speaking exclusively to 3newsโ Labour Affairs Correspondent, Asamoah claimed that some officers are collecting between GHS 20,000 and GHS 35,000 from parents to illegally re-post students to their preferred schools.
โPersonally, I have evidence of some of these things. Some parents have confided in me but are afraid to come forward. But I believe we canโt keep quiet about it. I urge the Honourable Minister of Education to take a serious look at this,โ Asamoah said.
โPaying as much as GHS20,000 to GHS35,000 just to change a childโs school placement? Itโs not right. These are children who have qualified and passed, yet their right to access their preferred schools is being denied. If we donโt address this, it could become worse than galamsey.โ
The CBMWU, an affiliate of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), says it is prepared to cooperate fully with any investigation the Ministry of Education may launch into the allegations.
โIโm ready to provide the evidence. People are suffering for no reason. If a committee wants to meet me, I am ready to come forward and speak out,โ Asamoah added.
In response to the allegations, the Press Secretary to the Minister of Education, Hashmin Mohammed, confirmed that the Ministry has taken note and intends to engage the union leader.
โThere 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,โ he said.
โIf anyone โ whether a Ministry official or a third party โ demands money for placement, report them to the Ministry, the nearest police station, or the Office of the Special Prosecutor.โ
Mohammed stressed that while the Ministry is committed to transparency, it needs concrete evidence to take disciplinary action.
โIn all the cases brought so far, it has been difficult to obtain primary information to begin formal investigations. But if Mr. Asamoah can provide evidence, we will gladly engage him. Weโve been looking for just such information to hold someone accountable and deter others.โ
โUntil then, we maintain that the CSSPS system is being applied with merit. But we will not condone any act of bribery or corruption.โ
Ghanaโs Computerized School Placement System has faced repeated criticism in recent years โ from technical glitches to allegations of favoritism and bribery. These latest claims only deepen public concern about transparency, accountability, and fairness in the school placement process.
The Ministry says a full investigation is underway and is urging parents and the general public to report any suspicious activity during the placement period.
Stakeholders are calling for urgent reforms to restore public trust in the system.
Weโll continue to bring you updates as this story develops.
Source: 3news
