The computerized school Selection and placement system fraud that drew massive criticism from the public has been traced to the Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum’s access.
Prof. Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa at the time was the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) of the placement system. His testimony following the Ministry of Education’s investigative committee’s sitting to probe alleged corruption in the school placement revealed this.
Background of the Computerized School Selection and Placement System Fraud
The Fourth Estate released the ‘School placement for sale’ exposé shockingly exposing corrupt practices in Ghana’s school placement system.
It was reported that the computerized school placement system was flawed with some individuals influencing the process instead of a full computerized-processing of Category A placement at an amount of GHC7,000 which is demanded from a parent.
Investigations conducted using the log report on the system, which is the account used to place a student at a ‘Category A’ school was allegedly traced to the Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum’s access and handled by one one Ms. Vera Amoah.
The marred placement of students into a category “A” school in 2022 which has affected eligible students from enrolling in their dream schools had drawn massive criticism from the public leading to the arrest of some culprits.
Prof. Opoku-Amankwa was also one of the persons who had the behest to access the computer system, place or approve the processes.
Access to protocol placement into the most prestigious senior high schools was only limited to Prof. Opoku-Amankwa the Director-General at the time and the Minister of Education Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum and to avert any influence peddling or monetary payment for placement into category “A” schools.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Education Ministry, Kwasi Kwarteng on the other hand has debunk claims that the Education Minister has a hand in the fraudulent activity and any attempt to tarnish his image or involve him is unfortunate.
He debunked Prof. Opoku-Amankwa’s claims when he disclosed this to the Investigative Committee probing the matter.
According to the Public Relations Officer, the report did not state whether or not the Minister denied the GES Director-General’s assertion that a fraudulent transaction was traced to his account, when the Investigative Committee spoke to the Minister regarding the allegation.
He assured that further investigations will be carried to ascertain the truth of the matter.
