The Ghana Education Service (GES) has dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that the Director-General has cancelled the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy and directed parents to pay GH¢1,500 for chop boxes and trunks.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, the GES described the publication as false and urged parents, guardians, students and the general public to disregard it.
The Service clarified that the Free SHS policy remains in place and that the Director-General has not issued any directive requiring parents or guardians to pay for chop boxes, trunks or any other items.
The GES further explained that the Director-General does not have the authority to cancel the Free SHS policy.
“Management has not cancelled the Free SHS policy, nor has the Director-General issued any directive requiring parents or guardians to pay any money for chop boxes, trunks or any other item,” the statement said.
The Service therefore cautioned the public against making payments to individuals based on the false publication.
It urged parents and guardians to rely only on official information communicated through the GES’s authorised channels and to treat unverified social media reports with caution.
The GES also appealed to members of the public and media organisations to refrain from creating, publishing or circulating false information that could cause unnecessary anxiety and confusion among parents, students and the wider public.
The clarification comes amid preparations for the new academic year, with the Service stressing that any official information concerning Free SHS and related requirements will be communicated through its authorised channels.
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