Ghana Education Minister: Ghana CSSPS School Placement Fraud Arrests Two

• Two individuals, Vicentia Appiah Antwi and Suzzy Owusu, were arrested in Accra on September 17, 2026, for alleged CSSPS school placement fraud.
• They are accused of collecting between GH¢9,500 and GH¢22,000 from victims under false pretenses of securing school placements.
• The arrests followed a tip-off from Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu, based on evidence provided by two BECE candidates.
• The suspects named two alleged accomplices, Nana Yaw Boateng and Alex Asumani, and have been bailed to assist the CID investigation.
• The Ministry of Education has warned the public that CSSPS placement is free and vowed to prosecute those who exploit parents and students.

The Ministry of Education has unequivocally reiterated its long-standing policy that placement through the CSSPS is entirely free of charge.

Two individuals have been apprehended in Accra in connection with an alleged Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) fraud, following a direct tip-off from Ghana's Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu. The arrests, which occurred on Thursday, September 17, 2026, targeted 24-year-old University of Ghana graduate Vicentia Appiah Antwi and 18-year-old unemployed Suzzy Owusu at the CSSPS Resolution Centre. These individuals stand accused of soliciting significant sums, ranging from GH¢9,500 to GH¢22,000, from victims under the false promise of securing placements in their preferred Senior High Schools.

The investigation into this CSSPS placement scam was initiated after two Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates brought forward compelling evidence to the Education Minister. Their report detailed how the suspects had approached them, offering to facilitate their second-cycle school placements in exchange for monetary compensation. Upon reviewing this information, Minister Iddrisu promptly directed the relevant security authorities to intervene, leading directly to the apprehension of Antwi and Owusu.

Following their arrest, the suspects were transferred to the Intelligence Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters for further questioning. This marks a significant development in the ongoing efforts to combat Ghana CSSPS school placement fraud, with the Ghana CID school placement fraud investigation now actively pursuing leads.

During their interrogation, the two arrested individuals identified two other persons as alleged accomplices in the scheme. These include Nana Yaw Boateng, who they claimed works as a medical doctor at Kwadaso SDA Hospital in Kumasi, and another individual known as Alex Asumani, also referred to as Lexus. These revelations indicate a potentially wider network involved in the fraudulent activities.

The suspects, Vicentia Appiah Antwi and Suzzy Owusu, underwent questioning, were formally cautioned, and subsequently detained for a period of 24 hours. They have since been granted bail, contingent on a credible surety, with the expectation that they will assist investigators in locating and arresting the alleged primary perpetrators of the fraud. In parallel, statements have been meticulously gathered from the two victims and their parents, providing crucial testimony for the ongoing inquiry. The named accomplices have also been formally requested to report to the police to contribute to the investigation.

The Ministry of Education has unequivocally reiterated its long-standing policy that placement through the CSSPS is entirely free of charge. In light of these arrests and the broader CSSPS placement scam investigation, the Ministry has issued a stern Ghana Ministry of Education fraud warning, cautioning parents and students against succumbing to individuals who demand payment for securing school placements.

Emphasizing the integrity of the school placement process, the Ministry of Education has urged parents, students, and the general public to maintain heightened vigilance. They are encouraged to promptly report any suspected instances of extortion, fraud, or attempts to manipulate the placement system to the appropriate authorities. This proactive stance aims to safeguard the fairness and transparency of the CSSPS.

Furthermore, the Ministry has issued a clear warning that any individuals found exploiting the anxieties of parents and students during the critical placement exercise will be identified and dealt with rigorously in accordance with Ghanaian law. This commitment underscores the government's resolve to crack down on those who seek to profit illegally from the educational system. The ongoing Ghana CSSPS school placement fraud arrests serve as a stark reminder of the serious criminal implications for those involved in such schemes.

Lawyers should advise clients on the criminal implications of engaging in or facilitating school placement fraud under Ghana's CSSPS, noting the Ministry of Education's commitment to prosecuting offenders and the ongoing CID investigation into these schemes.

Source: Original reporting via Prince Adu-Owusu