Thousands of students in Accra denied graduation ceremonies as government places ban

Thousands of pupils across Accra will be denied the chance to mark the end of their school journey this year after the Greater Accra Regional Education Directorate of the Ghana Education Service placed an immediate ban on graduation ceremonies.

In a communiqué sent to all pre-tertiary schools in the region — public and private — the Directorate ordered school heads to halt all graduation ceremonies, prom nights and leavers' celebrations with immediate effect.

"The attention of the Regional Education Directorate has been drawn to planned graduation ceremonies being organised by the management of some schools within the Greater Accra Region," the letter stated.

"You are hereby reminded that the Ministry of Education has placed a total ban on graduation ceremonies, prom nights, leavers' celebrations, and related activities involving pupils and students of pre-tertiary educational institutions (both public and private)."

It further directed that "no proprietor, proprietor's representative, teacher, parent association, school management committee, or any other stakeholder shall organise, sponsor, facilitate, or permit the organisation of such activities under the auspices of the school until further notice."

According to GES, the ban is "intended to promote discipline, equity, and child protection, while preventing undue financial burden on parents and guardians."

The directive comes after viral social media videos showed parents giving extravagant gifts to their children at some schools.

Punishing everyone for a few

But private school managers say the blanket ban is unfair and robs students of a milestone they have worked for.

"How do you punish everybody because some parents in a few schools decided to give their children expensive gifts? It is their right to do so, and you don't punish all schools and all students," a school director in Accra said.

"I don't know who came up with this idea, but it doesn't make sense, no matter how you look at it. How do you place a ban on all schools for the actions of a few?"

School owners are calling on GES and the Ministry of Education to reverse the directive immediately.

"The dreams of thousands of students have been dashed because of somebody's decision," a proprietor who spoke for several colleagues said.

"This is a historic day that these students look forward to. It is sad the government has banned it."

Another warned: "Before schools find their own ways around this, GES should revise the directive. Regulate us, don't ban us."