Two women have been arrested at the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) Resolution Centre in Accra for allegedly extorting up to GH¢22,000 from Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates under the false pretence of securing placements in their preferred senior high schools.
The suspects, identified as 24-year-old University of Ghana graduate Vicentia Appiah Antwi and 18-year-old unemployed Suzzy Owusu, were apprehended on Thursday, September 17, 2026, following a direct report to the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, by two BECE candidates who presented evidence of the alleged scheme.
According to police sources, the suspects demanded between GH¢9,500 and GH¢22,000 from each victim, with the amount varying depending on the prestige of the senior high school the candidates sought to enter. The two candidates, who are twin sisters, approached the Education Minister with evidence showing they had been lured into paying money in exchange for placement assistance.
Upon reviewing the evidence, Mr Iddrisu directed the appropriate security authorities to act, leading to the arrest of the two suspects at the CSSPS Resolution Centre — the very facility established to help resolve placement challenges for candidates. The suspects were subsequently handed over to the Intelligence Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters for questioning.
During interrogation, the two suspects named two other individuals as alleged accomplices — Nana Yaw Boateng, who they claimed is a medical doctor at Kwadaso SDA Hospital in Kumasi, and another person identified as Alex Asumani, also known as “Lexus.” The named accomplices have been directed to report to the police to assist with investigations.
The suspects were cautioned and detained for 24 hours before being granted bail 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 the investigation continues.
A Recurring Problem in Ghana’s School Placement System
The arrests come amid heightened anxiety over the 2026 CSSPS placement exercise, which has been plagued by challenges that have left thousands of families frustrated. The 2026 results, released on September 4, placed 527,932 candidates out of 604,567 qualified candidates — approximately 87.3 per cent — into senior high schools, senior high technical schools, and technical and vocational institutions.
However, 76,635 qualified candidates were not automatically placed, largely because 313,283 candidates selected Category A schools as their first choice, competing for just 76,417 declared vacancies. The Ministry of Education has attributed the crisis not to a shortage of spaces but to a mismatch between where vacancies exist and where students want to go.
The frustration has spilled over into the placement resolution centres. At the GNAT Hall in Accra, the Greater Accra Placement Resolution Centre has been overwhelmed by anxious parents and candidates, with some sleeping in the car park after spending hours waiting for assistance. Parents have reported queuing from as early as 4 a.m., only to be told to return the following day as officials struggled to cope with the volume of cases.
This is not the first time Ghana’s school placement system has been rocked by fraud allegations. In 2023, an investigative documentary titled “School Placement for Sale” by The Fourth Estate uncovered widespread corruption in the CSSPS, revealing that some parents paid as much as GH¢20,000 to secure placements for their children in top-tier schools. The exposé led to the arrest of eight suspects and prompted parliamentary summons for the Education Minister at the time.
In October 2025, the government announced it had tightened security on the CSSPS portal after arresting more than three individuals for spreading false claims of bribery and manipulation in the placement process. Minister Iddrisu revealed at the time that access to the portal had been restricted to ensure accountability, stating: “Sitting here as a minister, I don’t have access to the portal. The deputy does not have access. The chief has no access. The director of GES does not have access”.
Ministry Reiterates: CSSPS Placement Is Free
The Ministry of Education has reiterated that placement through the CSSPS is entirely free and warned parents and students against paying money to individuals who promise to secure placements in preferred schools.
“The Ministry reiterates that placement through the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) is free, and no parent or student should pay money to anyone in exchange for placement,” the Ministry stated.
The Ministry 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. It also warned that individuals who exploit anxious parents and students during the placement exercise will be identified and dealt with in accordance with the law.
The arrests serve as a stark reminder of the persistent vulnerabilities in Ghana’s school placement system — a system introduced in 2005 to replace the manual selection process and ensure merit-based, transparent admissions. Despite its intended purpose, the CSSPS continues to be exploited by individuals seeking to profit from the desperation of families eager to secure what they believe is a better future for their children.
