Four more people, including a physician assistant in Kumasi, have been arrested over their alleged involvement in the 2026 school placement fraud, as investigations into attempts to manipulate the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) continue.
The arrests were made in Kumasi and at the Accra Resolution Centre, according to information available to the Ministry of Education from the Ghana Police Service.
In Kumasi, Yaw Adjei Boateng, a physician assistant at the SDA Hospital, was arrested on Thursday, September 24, and interrogated by officers of the Intelligence Unit.
He reportedly admitted knowing Vicentia Antwi Appiah and told investigators that she had contacted him to help secure placement for Benedicta Yaa Edinam at Mafe Methodist Girls’ Senior High School.
Boateng allegedly told investigators that he received GH¢8,500 from Vicentia Antwi Appiah and subsequently forwarded the money to his former schoolmate, Brian Opare Addo, who works at the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council, to help facilitate the placement.
The placement was unsuccessful, he reportedly said.
He further claimed that he later instructed Brian Opare Addo to refund the money to Vicentia Antwi Appiah, and that the refund was made.
Boateng also told investigators that Brian Opare Addo had previously helped him secure placement for another person at St Monica’s Senior High School.
As part of the ongoing investigation, Brian Opare Addo has been invited to report to the Intelligence Unit on Monday, September 28, to assist with investigations.
Meanwhile, two other persons were arrested at the Accra Resolution Centre on Friday, September 25, as the probe widened.
The latest arrests bring to four the number of persons arrested in connection with the investigation over the past 48 hours, with one other person invited to assist the probe. The police had previously arrested two individuals on September 17, 2026, over their alleged involvement in school placement fraud.
Background: CSSPS and the Scramble for Placements
The Computerised School Selection and Placement System is the government’s automated platform for placing candidates who sit the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) into senior high schools, technical and vocational institutions across Ghana. Managed under the Ministry of Education, the system is intended to ensure transparency, fairness and efficiency in the placement process.
However, every placement season, desperate parents and guardians seeking preferred schools for their children become targets of fraudsters who promise to manipulate the system for a fee. The Ministry of Education and the Ghana Police Service have repeatedly warned the public against such offers, stressing that placement can only be changed through official resolution centres and due process.
Resolution centres, including the Accra Resolution Centre, are designated points where candidates and parents can seek legitimate help with placement issues. They have also become focal points for investigators tracking suspected fraudsters who prey on anxious families.
The 2026 probe is the latest in a series of crackdowns on placement-related fraud. In recent years, the police and education authorities have arrested several persons, including intermediaries and persons posing as officials, over allegations of collecting money to influence placements.
Investigations Ongoing
The suspects are currently in custody assisting with investigations. Police have not yet announced specific charges, and all suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
The Ministry of Education has urged parents and candidates to use only official channels and to report anyone demanding money or promising placement favours.
“The public is encouraged to continue providing information on suspected criminal activities to assist law enforcement agencies in maintaining the integrity of the school placement system,” the Ministry said in a statement.
Investigations are expected to continue in the coming days, with more arrests and invitations not ruled out.
