Extortion Galore, about 15 final year candidates were allegedly blocked by the Headmistress of WBM Zion Senior High School, Old Tafo, over unpaid practical fees in the Eastern Region from writing the 2025 WASE exam. The 15 candidates are taking part in the ongoing WASSCE examination. These students were reportedly blocked from writing the practical subjects like 1st Sculpture, 2nd Graphic Design, all in the Visual Arts papers and Agriculture.
Visual Arts, Agric, and Other Subjects LOCKED By the Headmistress of The School, Madam Abena Owarewaa Debrah and Some Heads of Departments (HOD) in the school. The students, who attend W.B.M Zion Senior High School, Old Tafo, Akim Eastern Region, were expected to write their exam at W.B.M Zion Senior High School in the Abuakwa North Municipality in the Eastern Region.
According to Atinka News reports, the Headmistress of the WBM Zion Senior High School allegedly sacked these students and prevented them from writing the practicals for not paying the Illegal extortion monies they Were Taking from the students. According to the affected students, they fear for the outcome of their WASE results this year.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) attention has been drawn to the ongoing extortion after Atinka News investigation team led by Barimah Saakwa uncovered this rot in the school. Parents whose wards has been affected are calling on GES to take a decisive action by interdicting the headmistress of the school Miss Abena Owarewaa Debrah.
Several senior high school headteachers across the country has suffered same fate for alleged involvement in charging unauthorized fees from final year students and new students.
According to the investigation at the WBM Zion Senior High School at Old Tafo in the eastern region, apart from denying the final year students before allowing them to write their final exam under the directives of the headmistress, the head of the school have also pocketed all internal generated funds- IGF in her private account and keep taxing the students each time she needs money for the school.
After the outcome of the investigation of which the head admitted keeping all the school monies in her accounts, parents are now calling on the GES to initiate a comprehensive investigation into the conduct of this headmistress.
They have therefore accused the headmistress of the school for charging students various unapproved fees, including house dues, books, admission process fees, practical fees, and charges for paint in painting of the school blocks.
Other fees include monies to buy mower for the school and also buying of fuel to power second-hand mower to clear the school park.
This development follows a pattern of similar interdictions in the Greater Accra, Kumasi and Eastern Regions for the unauthorized sale of items to students.
However, investigations into the actions of the interdicted headteachers will determine the extent of unauthorized fees charged and the necessary corrective measures by Ghana Education Service (GES).
This move comes as part of the GES’s commitment to ensuring transparency and ethical standards in the management of school finances.
As per the GES code of ethics, the collection of unauthorized fees or charges is considered a breach of the established guidelines, and appropriate actions will be taken to address such infractions.
It is recall that, Ghana Senior High School (SHS) in Koforidua, Madam Patience Naki Mensah, the Headmistress of Ghana Senior High School (SHS) in Koforidua, was directed to step aside over allegations of selling unauthorized items in the school on December 7, 2023.
By Ebenezer Madugu