Three TVET heads suspended over unauthorised fee collection

The Ghana Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Service has suspended the headteachers of three technical institutes. This follows confirmed reports of unauthorised fee collection and extortion within their schools.

The affected institutions are Agona Swedru Technical Institute in the Central Region, Sunyani Technical Institute in the Bono Region, and Madina Technical Institute in the Greater Accra Region.

In a statement, the TVET Service said investigations revealed that the schools had been collecting several unapproved fees, including admission charges, boarding protocol payments, levies for changing residential status, costs for fashion practical items, bedsheet payments, and Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) dues.

Management described these acts as a direct violation of the government’s *Free TVET Policy*, which guarantees free access to technical and vocational education for all eligible students.

The Service emphasised that such practices undermine its core values of fairness, transparency, and equity in school admissions and administration.

To address the issue, the TVET Service has constituted investigative committees to conduct a thorough and impartial probe. The composition of these committees will be announced soon, and their recommendations will determine the next line of disciplinary action.

Meanwhile, the suspended headteachers have been directed to proceed on a 30-day administrative leave with immediate effect. Their duties have been temporarily assigned to the respective Regional Directors: Hannah Asamoah for the Central Region (Agona Swedru Technical Institute), Gabriel Gyamfi for the Bono Region (Sunyani Technical Institute), and Engr. Juliana Nkrumah for the Greater Accra Region (Madina Technical Institute).

The Ghana TVET Service reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy on corruption, extortion, and any practices that erode public confidence in the TVET system.

It further assured parents, students, and the general public of its commitment to accountability, transparency, and fairness in the management of technical and vocational institutions across the country.