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Viral ‘Slave Trade in Libya 2026’ Video Sparks Outrage — What We Know

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A disturbing video circulating online has been presented as evidence that Black Africans are being sold as slaves in Libya in 2026. GhanaMedia.net examined the claim and found that the broader crisis is real, but the specific viral footage has not been independently established as new 2026 slave-auction footage.

The material shows Black migrants crowded behind metal barriers, while another clip shows migrants being moved through a crowded area. Social-media captions describe the footage as “Slave trade in Libya 2026.”

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Viral ‘Slave Trade in Libya 2026’ Video Sparks Outrage — What We Know 2

However, the date, location and precise circumstances surrounding the footage have not been independently established.

UN confirms severe migrant abuses in Libya

The viral claim comes against the backdrop of a genuine and well-documented humanitarian crisis.

In February 2026, the UN Human Rights Office and the UN Support Mission in Libya reported that migrants, refugees and asylum seekers had been subjected to systematic abuses including slavery, forced labour, sexual violence, torture, ransom and extortion.

The UN report covered abuses between January 2024 and December 2025 and described trafficking networks operating in Libya, sometimes with links to Libyan authorities and criminal networks abroad.

What about the slave auctions?

There is documented evidence that African migrants were sold at slave auctions in Libya.

In 2017, CNN conducted a months-long investigation after receiving footage showing African migrants being auctioned. CNN later authenticated the material, filmed additional auctions and provided evidence to Libyan authorities.

Those revelations triggered international outrage and renewed attention on the exploitation of migrants travelling through Libya.

However, older footage should not automatically be described as footage from 2026. Similar claims have repeatedly circulated online with old or inadequately sourced images and videos.

The “Arab invaders” claim

The viral caption also describes the alleged perpetrators as “Arab invaders.” GhanaMedia.net cannot substantiate that characterization.

International investigations have documented criminal trafficking networks, armed groups and alleged involvement by some state-linked actors. That evidence does not justify attributing criminal conduct collectively to Arabs or Libyans as an ethnic or national group.

GhanaMedia Verification

PARTLY VERIFIED — CONTEXT REQUIRED.

The existence of severe trafficking, forced labour, slavery and other abuses against migrants in Libya is independently documented. However, the specific viral footage supplied to GhanaMedia.net has not been independently authenticated as a newly recorded 2026 slave auction.

The responsible formulation is therefore: Libya continues to face serious and documented migrant trafficking and slavery-related abuses, while the specific viral video requires further verification before being presented as evidence of a 2026 slave market.

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Sources

Gospel Legend Bernice Offei Dies at 63

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Veteran Ghanaian gospel musician Bernice Offei has died at the age of 63, with multiple Ghanaian media outlets reporting her passing on Saturday, September 12, 2026.

The news was announced by fellow gospel musician Nii Noi, while gospel music producer Kwesi Ernest also confirmed the death in a separate social-media post.

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Gospel Legend Bernice Offei Dies at 63 4

Bernice Offei was one of Ghana’s recognised gospel music voices, with a career spanning several decades. She was known for songs including Life Is Short, Hold On and Kaa She Gbeyei.

Her contribution to Ghanaian gospel music earned her major recognition at the 2009 Ghana Music Awards, where she won Best Female Vocal Performance and Songwriter of the Year.

Her death comes just days after she was reported missing in Accra on September 1, 2026. The disappearance triggered a public search involving members of Ghana’s gospel music community. She was later reported to have been found safe.

However, the circumstances surrounding her death and any possible connection to her earlier disappearance have not been established in the reports reviewed by GhanaMedia.net.

GhanaMedia.net verification: The death has been reported by multiple established Ghanaian news organisations and was separately confirmed by individuals within the gospel music community. GhanaMedia.net has therefore classified the death report as verified. No cause of death should be published as fact unless confirmed by the family, representatives or another competent authority.

Bernice Offei leaves behind a lasting musical legacy and remains remembered for her contribution to Ghanaian gospel music.

She was 63.

Sources

21-Year-Old Woman Charged With Murder of Friend and Aggravated Robbery in Uganda

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Patricia Rose Turindwamukama, 21, has been charged with the alleged murder of her friend and roommate, 22-year-old Jovia Namuwulya, and aggravated robbery in Kampala.

Turindwamukama appeared before Senior Principal Grade One Magistrate Nicholas Aisu at the City Hall Court on September 7, 2026, where she was charged alongside an alleged accomplice who remains at large.

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21-Year-Old Woman Charged With Murder of Friend and Aggravated Robbery in Uganda 6

According to the prosecution, the alleged offences occurred on the night of August 20, 2026, in Mukalazi Zone, Bukoto I Parish, Nakawa Division.

Namuwulya, who worked as a waitress and was also a TikTok content creator, was reportedly found dead in her rented room after relatives became concerned when she stopped responding to their calls.

Police reportedly discovered bloodstains inside the room before finding Namuwulya’s body. Investigators subsequently arrested Turindwamukama on August 24, four days after the alleged killing.

Prosecution alleges that Turindwamukama and another person robbed Namuwulya of several possessions, including an iPhone 12 Pro Max, a bag, clothing and a passport. A knife was allegedly used during the robbery.

Turindwamukama did not enter a plea because murder and aggravated robbery are capital offences outside the jurisdiction of the magistrates’ court.

The magistrate advised her that she could seek bail from the High Court. She was subsequently remanded to Luzira Prison until September 22, 2026, for further mention of the case.

Police have said investigations are continuing. They also alleged that Turindwamukama had applied for an Iraqi visa on August 21, one day after the alleged killing.

GhanaMedia.net’s verification: The court appearance, charges and remand are independently reported by Ugandan news outlets. However, the allegations have not been proven in court. Turindwamukama remains presumed innocent unless and until she is found guilty by a competent court.

Sources

Police Officer and Driver Clash Over Physical Licence on Kanda Highway

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A video circulating online appears to show a disagreement between a police officer and a motorist along the Psychiatric Hospital–Kanda Highway over the production of a physical driving licence.

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Police Officer and Driver Clash Over Physical Licence on Kanda Highway 8

According to the account accompanying the video, the driver declined to hand over his physical licence, arguing that motorists had been advised to provide their licence code instead.

The account further alleges that the disagreement escalated after the officer attempted to take the driver’s car keys.

What Ghana’s Police Service Says About Driving Licences

The Ghana Police Service’s official TraffiTech-GH guidance confirms that motorists are not required to carry their physical driving licence while driving.

The police say drivers can instead remember their licence number or write it on a card and provide the number to an officer when requested.

The TraffiTech-GH system is linked to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) database, allowing officers to verify licence information electronically.

Read the Ghana Police Service’s TraffiTech-GH guidance.

Digital Traffic Enforcement

The development comes as Ghana moves towards greater use of digital traffic enforcement.

Recent reports indicate that the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) is deploying cameras, handheld devices, in-vehicle cameras and other technologies to identify traffic offences.

The new system is intended to reduce the need for officers to conduct manual roadside checks for offences covered by the digital enforcement system.

Was the Officer Wrong?

That question cannot be conclusively answered from the circulating footage alone.

While the Ghana Police Service’s TraffiTech-GH guidance confirms that motorists do not need to carry the physical licence, Ghana’s road-traffic laws also give police officers powers to require the production of driving licences in specified circumstances.

GhanaMedia.net therefore cannot conclude from the video alone that the officer acted unlawfully or that the dispute was caused exclusively by the driver’s refusal to surrender his physical licence.

GhanaMedia Verification

PARTLY VERIFIED — INCIDENT NOT INDEPENDENTLY CONFIRMED.

The official Ghana Police Service guidance confirming that motorists can provide their licence number instead of carrying the physical licence has been independently verified.

However, GhanaMedia.net has not located an independent police statement or credible news report confirming the specific confrontation shown in the circulating video or establishing exactly what led to the dispute.

Until the Ghana Police Service or another authoritative source provides further information, the specific allegations surrounding the encounter should be treated as reported claims rather than established facts.

Sources

GhanaMedia.net — News That Empowers. Stories That Connect.

Nigerian Family in Ghana Flaunts NHIS Cards After Enrolment

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A video circulating on social media shows people described as a Nigerian family in Ghana celebrating after obtaining National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) cards.

The video was posted by ASK Ghana with the caption: “A Nigerian family in Ghana happily flaunts their NHIS cards after acquiring them.” The post has since attracted significant engagement online.

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Nigerian Family in Ghana Flaunts NHIS Cards After Enrolment 10

However, while the social-media post and video are authentic, GhanaMedia.net could not independently establish the identities or nationality of the individuals shown in the footage.

Can foreigners obtain health insurance in Ghana?

Yes. Ghana’s National Health Insurance Act, 2012 (Act 852), states that the objective of the National Health Insurance Authority includes achieving universal health-insurance coverage for people resident in Ghana as well as people who are not resident in Ghana but are visiting the country.

The Ministry of Health provides information on the mandate of the National Health Insurance Authority.

The Ministry of Health and the National Health Insurance Authority also launched a National Non-Resident Visitors Health Insurance Policy in February 2024. The policy was intended to promote health-insurance coverage for non-resident visitors to Ghana.

There is also recent evidence that migrant communities in Ghana are being considered in efforts to expand NHIS access. A September 2026 study on migrant workers in the Wa Municipality recommended targeted NHIS registration and renewal drives for migrant communities.

Important distinction

The existence of mechanisms allowing foreigners or visitors to access health-insurance coverage does not automatically prove that every foreign national in Ghana qualifies for the same NHIS benefits or receives them for free.

In June 2024, the Ministry of Health cautioned that a proposed mandatory health-insurance policy for non-Ghanaian visitors had not been approved as government policy at that time.

Therefore, the viral video should not be presented as evidence that “Ghana gives free NHIS cards to Nigerians” or that Nigerians automatically qualify for free Ghanaian health insurance.

What GhanaMedia.net Can Confirm

The video is genuinely circulating from ASK Ghana, and Ghana’s health-insurance framework does provide for coverage involving non-Ghanaian residents and visitors.

However, the specific nationality and circumstances of the individuals shown in the video cannot be independently confirmed from the footage alone.

GhanaMedia Verification

PARTLY VERIFIED — CONTEXT REQUIRED.

The broader claim that foreigners can access health-insurance arrangements in Ghana is supported by Ghanaian law and official health-policy information. The specific claim that the people shown are a Nigerian family who obtained the cards, however, remains based on the originating social-media post and has not been independently established by GhanaMedia.net.

Sources:

Published by GhanaMedia.net — News That Empowers. Stories That Connect.

Ghana Prison Service Assistants Begin Refresher Training Ahead of Mainstream Absorption

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Prison Service Assistants (PSAs) have begun refresher training at the Prison Officers Training School as preparations continue toward their potential absorption into the mainstream Ghana Prisons Service.

The development marks another stage in the programme established to engage young Ghanaians as Prison Service Assistants and provide additional personnel support to the Ghana Prisons Service.

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Ghana Prison Service Assistants Begin Refresher Training Ahead of Mainstream Absorption 12

According to reports, the assistants have arrived at the Prison Officers Training School for a refresher training programme ahead of their anticipated transition into the mainstream service.

Background to the Prison Service Assistant Programme

The Prison Service Assistant programme was introduced through a collaboration between the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) and the Ghana Prisons Service.

In July 2025, the YEA announced an agreement to recruit about 5,000 young people as Prison Service Assistants under a two-year engagement programme.

The initiative was designed to provide employment opportunities for young people while strengthening manpower levels within the Ghana Prisons Service.

At the time, officials also indicated that the programme could provide a pathway for some of the assistants to eventually join the mainstream security service.

Refresher Training Ahead of Absorption

The latest development involves the assistants undergoing refresher training as preparations advance for their possible absorption into the mainstream Ghana Prisons Service.

The training is expected to help reinforce the assistants’ knowledge, discipline and operational preparedness before any transition into the mainstream service.

However, the term “absorption” should be understood carefully. Previous statements surrounding the programme indicated an intention to absorb as many qualified assistants as possible rather than guaranteeing permanent positions to every participant.

What Happens Next?

The refresher programme is therefore an important stage in determining the readiness of the assistants as discussions and preparations continue regarding their future within the Ghana Prisons Service.

For the thousands of young people who joined the programme, the potential transition represents an important employment opportunity and a possible route into permanent public service.

GhanaMedia.net Verification

VERIFIED — WITH CONTEXT.

GhanaMedia.net has verified that reports of Prison Service Assistants commencing refresher training are supported by available reporting and are consistent with the earlier YEA–Ghana Prisons Service programme.

However, mainstream absorption should not be interpreted as an automatic guarantee of permanent employment for every assistant. The eventual process and number of assistants absorbed remain subject to the applicable requirements and official decisions.

Source: Youth Employment Agency

Related: GhanaMedia.net

France Seizes Nearly $260 Million Cocaine Shipment Arriving From Ghana

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French customs authorities have seized nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine worth an estimated €225 million, or about US$261 million, at the Port of Dunkirk after the shipment arrived from Ghana.

French customs authorities have seized nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine worth an estimated €225 million (about US$261 million) at the Port of Dunkirk after the shipment arrived from Ghana.

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France Seizes Nearly $260 Million Cocaine Shipment Arriving From Ghana 14

The seizure was made on Thursday, September 10, 2026, according to France’s National Anti-Organised Crime Prosecutor’s Office and Reuters.

Cocaine hidden among plastic waste

The cocaine was concealed inside a container carrying plastic waste.

French authorities said the shipment was initially destined, at least in part, for the Belgian port of Antwerp.

French customs officers discovered approximately 3.9 tonnes of cocaine concealed within the consignment.

The entire quantity of cocaine has since been destroyed, while French prosecutors have opened an investigation into the shipment.

Investigation targets suspected criminal network

French judicial police had reportedly been monitoring the criminal network suspected of being behind the shipment before the seizure occurred.

The investigation includes suspected offences involving the organised importation of narcotics and participation in a criminal association.

French authorities said the offences under investigation can carry prison sentences of up to 10 years.

Ghana connection

The shipment is significant for Ghana because French authorities identified the container as having arrived from Ghana.

However, the seizure itself does not establish that the cocaine was loaded in Ghana or that Ghanaian authorities, companies or individuals participated in the trafficking operation.

Investigators are expected to examine the shipment’s origin, the exporters and intermediaries involved, its intended recipients and the wider criminal network allegedly responsible.

Possible Belgium and Netherlands links

The shipment was initially destined partly for Antwerp, Belgium.

Dutch authorities have also arrested a man in connection with the approximately 4,000-kilogramme cocaine shipment. Dutch prosecutors said the suspect was arrested in Dordrecht on September 4 and is suspected of involvement in preparations to import cocaine into the Netherlands.

Dutch media have reported possible connections to the organisation of fugitive drug trafficker Jos Leijdekkers, but Dutch prosecutors have not confirmed his involvement in this specific shipment.

One of France’s major recent drug seizures

French customs reported seizing 108.81 tonnes of narcotics of all types in 2025, with an estimated value of €2.197 billion.

The latest Dunkirk seizure therefore represents a major operation in France’s ongoing fight against international drug trafficking.

GhanaMedia Verification

🟢 VERIFIED — CURRENT STORY

GhanaMedia confirms that French authorities seized nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine valued at approximately US$261 million from a container that arrived from Ghana.

However, GhanaMedia cannot establish from the available evidence that the cocaine itself was loaded in Ghana or that Ghanaian officials, businesses or citizens were responsible for the trafficking operation.

Editorial conclusion: The seizure is real and current. The Ghana connection is confirmed at the level of the shipment’s arrival, while responsibility for the trafficking network remains under investigation.

Read more Ghana and international stories on GhanaMedia.net.

Explore more Ghana news in our Ghana News section.

Kuami Eugene Says He Is Still Facing Backlash Over Sarkodie’s ‘Happy Day’ Feature

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The Ghanaian singer said he continues to explain that he was unaware of the song’s political direction when he recorded his part.

Ghanaian musician Kuami Eugene has revealed that he continues to face criticism over his involvement in Sarkodie’s 2020 hit song “Happy Day.”

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Kuami Eugene Says He Is Still Facing Backlash Over Sarkodie’s ‘Happy Day’ Feature 16

The singer made the comments during an interview with Hitz FM presenter Andy Dosty in October 2024, explaining that he still has to deal with the consequences of the song’s political interpretation.

“I’m still suffering for that feature”

Kuami Eugene said he did not know the song would eventually be perceived as an NPP campaign song when he agreed to feature on it.

He explained that after hearing Sarkodie’s initial verse, he recorded his chorus, but the song subsequently developed in a direction he had not anticipated.

He said he has had to repeatedly explain that he was not part of the political message associated with the song.

How “Happy Day” became political

“Happy Day” was released in 2020, shortly before Ghana’s general election.

The song attracted controversy after Sarkodie praised aspects of the Nana Akufo-Addo administration, including the Free Senior High School policy, and ended his verse with the phrase “Nana, toaso.”

The song was consequently interpreted by many listeners as an endorsement of the then-president and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Kuami Eugene says he was blindsided

According to the singer, the initial conversation surrounding the collaboration did not point in a political direction.

He said he recorded his chorus after hearing Sarkodie’s first verse and was disappointed by how the final song was interpreted.

He subsequently found himself having to explain his position repeatedly whenever the song resurfaced.

Graphic Online also reported his account, including his comments about continuing to face consequences from the collaboration.

The controversy continues to resurface

The “Happy Day” controversy has remained part of discussions around Ghanaian music and celebrity politics.

Sarkodie previously rejected the interpretation that the song was intended as an NPP endorsement, while Kuami Eugene has consistently maintained that he did not intend to endorse any political party.

GhanaMedia Verification

VERDICT: VERIFIED STATEMENT — RECIRCULATED FROM 2024

The statement attributed to Kuami Eugene is genuine and was widely reported in October 2024.

However, the social-media graphic currently circulating should not be presented as breaking or newly made news in September 2026.

Bottom line: The quote is authentic, but the post is recycling a 2024 interview.

Read more entertainment stories on GhanaMedia.net.

Osita Iheme Says He Has No Plans to Marry or Have Children

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Nollywood actor popularly known as Pawpaw said he prefers to focus on his life, family and helping those close to him.

Nollywood actor Osita Iheme, popularly known as Pawpaw, has revealed that he currently has no plans to marry or have children.

Iheme made the comments in a statement reported in July 2025, when he was 43 years old.

“I’m already 43 years, I have no plans of getting married. I just want to live my life and help those closer to me. My brothers and sisters have children—I consider them as mine.”

His comments reflect his decision to live life on his own terms rather than feel pressured to marry because of age or societal expectations.

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Osita Iheme Says He Has No Plans to Marry or Have Children 18

A decision to live differently

Iheme has generally maintained a relatively private personal life despite his long career in Nollywood.

His comments suggest that he is comfortable with his current circumstances and places importance on supporting members of his family.

The actor has previously spoken about marriage in interviews. In an earlier MyJoyOnline interview, he said marriage was not something he wanted to undertake simply because other people were doing it.

No confirmed wife or children

Available biographical sources continue to describe Iheme as unmarried and without biological children.

Social-media photographs of the actor with children have previously generated speculation about his personal life, but such photographs do not establish that he is a father.

GhanaMedia fact-check

VERDICT: VERIFIED STATEMENT — OLD/RECIRCULATED

The core statement attributed to Osita Iheme is supported by reports published in July 2025.

However, the social-media post circulating now should not be described as breaking news because the statement is more than a year old.

GhanaMedia also found no sufficiently authoritative evidence to substantiate the post’s claimed $3 million net worth, so that figure should not be presented as fact.

Bottom line: Pawpaw’s comments are real, but the viral post is recycling an older 2025 statement.

Read more entertainment stories in the GhanaMedia.net entertainment and lifestyle coverage.

Parent Alleges GH¢15,000 Demand in St. Louis SHS Admission Bid Amid CSSPS Crisis

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A Kumasi parent says desperation over his daughter’s unresolved 2026 SHS placement led him to consider paying GH¢10,000, before he was allegedly asked for GH¢15,000. A separate report identifies St. Louis SHS as the school involved, but the alleged demand has not been independently confirmed.

A parent in Kumasi has alleged that he was asked to pay GH¢15,000 to secure a Senior High School placement for his daughter, who obtained an aggregate 9 in the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

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Parent Alleges GH¢15,000 Demand in St. Louis SHS Admission Bid Amid CSSPS Crisis 20

The allegation emerged amid mounting frustration over Ghana’s 2026 Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS), with parents turning up at placement-resolution centres to resolve cases involving unplaced candidates and school assignments.

According to a September 11 report by JoyNews/MyJoyOnline, the father said he was prepared to pay GH¢10,000 to secure a placement for his daughter but was allegedly asked for GH¢15,000 instead.

What the parent alleged

The parent said his daughter scored aggregate 9 in the BECE but remained without an SHS placement.

He explained that the situation became increasingly frustrating as he searched for an alternative school after the initial placement option did not meet his daughter’s preference.

According to his account, he eventually sought assistance from someone he believed could help secure another placement. He said he was willing to pay GH¢10,000 but was allegedly told that the amount required would be GH¢15,000.

A separate report subsequently identified St. Louis Senior High School as the school the parent was allegedly seeking admission to.

However, GhanaMedia has not independently established that St. Louis SHS itself demanded GH¢15,000. The amount should therefore be attributed to the parent’s allegation rather than presented as an official school charge.

CSSPS under pressure

The allegation comes as Ghana’s 2026 SHS placement exercise faces significant pressure.

The Ghana News Agency reported that 527,932 out of 604,567 qualified candidates had been placed by September 7, representing 87.3 percent of candidates eligible for placement.

However, 76,635 qualified candidates had not been automatically placed, with high demand for Category A schools identified as a major factor.

The Ministry of Education said the challenge was not necessarily a shortage of places across the secondary-school system, but a mismatch between available vacancies and candidates’ preferred schools.

Candidates who were not automatically matched were advised to use the self-placement system and consider schools and programmes with available vacancies.

Government warns against unauthorised admissions

The Ministry has also introduced an upgraded CSSPS admission and enrolment portal intended to allow parents and guardians to complete parts of the process online.

According to the Ghana News Agency, Deputy Education Minister Dr Clement Apaak warned heads of schools not to admit or enrol students outside the CSSPS system.

The Ministry said unauthorised admissions could create discrepancies in student data and cause problems with government disbursements to schools. It also warned that sanctions could be imposed on heads who violate the directive.

Another allegation of political interference

The parent also told JoyNews that someone at the placement centre allegedly asked whether he was affiliated with the NDC and whether he possessed a party card.

He claimed the person suggested that an NDC card could have helped him obtain assistance with the placement.

The parent, however, said he did not want to politicise the matter and remained focused on finding a school for his daughter.

GhanaMedia has not independently verified this political-affiliation allegation.

A wider placement problem

The case comes amid broader complaints emerging from placement-resolution centres.

Parents have reported children remaining unplaced, students being assigned to schools they did not select and lengthy queues at resolution centres.

The Fourth Estate has previously investigated corruption risks within Ghana’s computerised school-placement system, including historical allegations of intermediaries demanding thousands of cedis to secure places in sought-after schools.

Those historical investigations, however, do not prove the current GH¢15,000 allegation.

GhanaMedia Verification

🟡 REPORT VERIFIED — SPECIFIC PAYMENT ALLEGATION UNPROVEN

GhanaMedia can verify that the underlying parent’s account is genuine and has been reported by JoyNews/MyJoyOnline, including the allegation that he was prepared to pay GH¢10,000 and was subsequently asked for GH¢15,000.

  • GH¢15,000 has not been established as an official St. Louis SHS admission fee.
  • GhanaMedia has found no official statement from St. Louis SHS confirming the alleged demand.
  • The allegation that the payment was demanded specifically by the school should remain attributed to the parent.
  • The separate political-affiliation allegation has also not been independently established.

Editorially, GhanaMedia should therefore use “alleges,” “claims” or “says” throughout the story rather than stating that St. Louis SHS demanded GH¢15,000 as a fact.

Read more Ghana education stories in the Ghana News section of GhanaMedia.net.

Visit the GhanaMedia.net homepage for more verified news and current affairs.