GES orders SHS heads to refund unauthorised fees collected from parents

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has instructed heads of senior high and technical schools to cease collecting unauthorized fees from parents and guardians, and to refund any money already taken, according to a statement released on September 23, 2026. The GES made this announcement following reports that certain schools were imposing admission fees, Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) dues, and additional charges, despite the government's free senior high school initiative.

According to the GES, payment should not be a prerequisite for a student's admission, enrollment, participation in school activities, or access to school services. School administrators who have collected unauthorized fees have been obliged to return the money and supply evidence of the refunds to school management. Those who fail to comply with this directive may face administrative penalties, including possible dismissal from their positions.

Furthermore, the GES announced that the collection of PTA dues is currently suspended while a related legal case proceeds through the courts. The agency urged parents and the public to report any instances of unauthorised payment demands so that they can be investigated.