Editorial: GES Investigation Of Terchire SHS Alleged Extortion Deserves Commendation

On May 29, 2026 The Chronicle published a disturbing story detailing allegations of extortion, excessive fee collections and financial mismanagement at the Terchire Senior High School in the Tano North Municipality of the Ahafo Region.

The report revealed how final-year students were allegedly compelled to pay between GH¢4,000 and GH¢4,500 to sit for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), in addition to other charges, including examination and hostel fees.

In a swift and commendable response, the Ghana Education Service (GES) has launched an investigation into the allegations to ascertain the facts surrounding the reported extortion.

The Director-General of GES has directed the Ahafo Regional Director of Education to establish a Committee of Enquiry to examine claims that management of the school collected huge sums of money from final-year students and their parents under questionable circumstances. The committee has been tasked to submit its report by June 5, 2026.

The swift intervention by the Ghana Education Service in the unfolding Terchire Senior High School extortion saga deserves commendation.

Too often, public concerns and media exposés are met with silence, delay or attempts at cover-ups.

In this instance, however, the GES moved quickly by directing the establishment of a committee of enquiry and dispatching a team to the school to gather facts. Such prompt action sends a strong signal that accountability still matters in the management of our educational institutions.

But while the probe at Terchire is welcome, it also raises troubling questions about what may be happening elsewhere.

For years, parents across the country have complained about unexplained levies, excessive PTA charges, examination fees and various forms of unofficial collections in some schools. Many parents, fearful that their children could be victimised or denied certain privileges, often pay these charges in silence. Others simply struggle and sacrifice because they believe they have no alternative.

The Terchire case, therefore, appears to be more than an isolated incident. It exposes a worrying culture in which some school authorities may be taking advantage of parents and students under the guise of educational support.

One question stands out: if The Chronicle had not exposed this matter, would the practice have continued? The answer is a likely yes.

Indeed, the revelation that some students had already paid between GH¢4,000 and GH¢4,500 before the issue came to public attention suggests that the collections had become normalised. That should concern every stakeholder in Ghana’s education sector.

More importantly, how many other schools are engaging in similar practices?

The truth is that we do not know.

That is why the GES must treat this investigation as a starting point rather than an end in itself. The Service must conduct broader audits and compliance checks across the country to determine whether similar schemes are operating elsewhere. Parents must also be encouraged to report suspicious charges without fear of reprisals.

The ongoing probe must be thorough, transparent and free from interference. Any headmaster, teacher, PTA executive, accountant or education official found culpable must be sanctioned in accordance with the law and existing regulations.

Education is a public trust, not a business enterprise. Schools exist to nurture and educate children, not to exploit the financial vulnerabilities of parents.

As GES proceeds with its investigations, it must leave no stone unturned. The findings should be made public, appropriate refunds secured where necessary and those responsible held accountable. Anything less would only embolden others to continue a practice that should never be tolerated in Ghana’s schools.

 

 

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