The Education Ministry has suspended graduation ceremonies across all Senior High Schools (SHS) over the recent excessive display of wealth.
According to the Education Ministry, schools are institutions for learning, discipline and character development, and graduation ceremonies should rather mirror modesty and dignity rather than luxury.
The education minister, Haruna Iddrisu, called for the GES to suspend all SHS graduation ceremonies with immediate effect, pending a review of existing guidelines.
In a statement issued by the education minister’s Press Secretary, Hashmin Mohammed, on June 20, 2026, read, “The Ministry strongly condemns any conduct by students, parents, guardians, or other stakeholders that promotes extravagance and detracts from the true purpose of school ceremonies”.
“Consequently, the Honourable Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has directed the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to suspend all Senior High School graduation ceremonies nationwide with immediate effect, pending a review of existing guidelines governing such events,” the release added.
Some Ghanaians reacting to the development stated, “I disagree. This trend has been normalised for years in elite schools like AIS, GIS, DPS and others without outrage. Now that it has reached public schools, suddenly it’s a national crisis? Either the principle was wrong from the start, or the concern is more about who is doing it than what is being done”.
One X user added, “This is a commendable initiative by the Ministry of Education. Excessive displays of wealth in schools can make less privileged children feel excluded or inferior. I applaud the Ministry for taking such action”.
A netizen stated, “We are hypocritical and biased as a society. In a country where politicians openly flaunt luxury while citizens struggle to afford basic meals, it is absurd that the moral line is suddenly drawn at parents celebrating their children’s academic success. If extravagance is truly the problem, then the scrutiny should begin with those in power, not ordinary families”.
“It seems normal and quaint when you are not a victim. This put psychological trauma on “broke” innocent children; they seem to be okay just to stabilise their mental health, but profoundly, they are left alone to deal with thousands of questions.. WHY?”, a netizen noted.
A netizen noted, “This is great leadership. Many poor parents are suffering from these SHS graduation ceremonies. They are asked to pay contributions and it’s sometimes a burden on them. U know children, while others are paying, your child also gives you pressure to pay for him or her”.
“By that logic, politicians shouldn’t be allowed to do anything, given how many leave richer than they arrived, driving luxury cars bought with public funds & sending their children to elite schools abroad while neglecting our own education system. Why else are so many at EOCO?”, a netizen added.
See the post below:
Education Ministry suspends graduation ceremonies across all Senior High Schools over recent excessive display of wealth…#GHOneNews #EIBNetwork #GHOneTV #NewsAlert pic.twitter.com/SoQ6brStbT
— GHOne TV (@ghonetv) June 20, 2026
