Accra: Two women arrested over alleged GH¢22,000 SHS placement fraud

The Police have arrested two persons in Accra for allegedly collecting money from parents and students under false pretences of securing placement into their preferred Senior High Schools (SHSs).

The suspects, identified as 24-year-old University of Ghana graduate Vicentia Appiah Antwi and 18-year-old unemployed Suzzy Owusu, were arrested on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at about 1:30 p.m.

According to an intelligence report from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters, the arrests were carried out by a team from the Ministry of Education acting on the directives of the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu.

The suspects are alleged to have collected between GH¢9,500 and GH¢22,000 from each victim, depending on the school the victim sought placement into.

The case came to the attention of the Education Minister after two BECE candidates reported the alleged scheme and provided evidence indicating that the suspects had demanded money in exchange for assistance with their second-cycle school placement.

After reviewing the evidence, the Minister alerted the appropriate security authorities, leading to the arrest of the suspects at the Resolution Centre in Accra.

During interrogation, the two suspects reportedly named two other persons they claimed were involved in the alleged scheme.

They identified the alleged accomplices as Nana Yaw Boateng, described as a supposed medical doctor at Kwadaso SDA Hospital in Kumasi, and Alex Asumani, also known as “Lexus”.

The Police have asked the two named persons to report to the Intelligence Unit of the CID Headquarters to assist with investigations.

The suspects were interrogated, cautioned and detained for 24 hours before being granted bail and released to a credible surety to assist investigators in tracing and arresting the alleged main culprits.

Statements have also been obtained from the two victims and their parents as investigations continue.

The arrests come as the Ministry of Education intensifies efforts to protect parents and students from individuals seeking to exploit the anxiety surrounding the annual school placement exercise.

The Ministry has reiterated that placement into public second-cycle institutions through the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) is free.

The Ministry said, “No parent or student should pay money to anyone in exchange for placement.”

The Education Ministry has urged parents, students, and the general public to remain vigilant and report suspected cases of extortion, fraud, or attempts to manipulate the placement process to the appropriate authorities.

The Ministry has further warned that individuals who seek to exploit parents and students during the placement exercise will be identified and dealt with in accordance with the law.