The Ministry of Education has suspended all Senior High School (SHS) graduation ceremonies nationwide with immediate effect, citing growing concerns over excessive displays of wealth and flamboyance during such events.
The directive, issued by Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu, will remain in force pending a review of existing guidelines governing graduation ceremonies.
In a statement issued on Saturday, June 20, the Ministry said it had taken note of rising public concerns about how some schools conduct graduation events.
“The Ministry of Education has taken note of growing public concerns regarding the increasing trend of excessive display of wealth and flamboyance during graduation ceremonies in some Senior High Schools across the country,” the statement said.
It stressed that schools are institutions for discipline, learning and character formation, and said graduation ceremonies should reflect those values.
“The Ministry wishes to emphasise that schools are institutions for learning, character development, discipline, and the nurturing of responsible citizens,” it noted.
The Ministry added that graduation ceremonies are meant to celebrate academic achievement and personal growth, and should be conducted with modesty and dignity.
“The Ministry wishes to emphasise that graduation ceremonies are intended to celebrate students’ academic achievements and personal growth and should therefore reflect the values of modesty, dignity, and respect associated with the educational environment,” it said.
It also condemned practices that shift attention away from the purpose of such events.
“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,” the statement added.
As part of the directive, the Minister has instructed the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to suspend all SHS graduation ceremonies nationwide with immediate effect, pending a review of existing guidelines.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that school activities uphold discipline, responsibility and moral development.
“The Ministry remains committed to ensuring that all school activities uphold the highest standards of discipline, responsibility, and moral development, in line with the objectives of Ghana’s education system,” it said.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Education Service (GES) has also banned extravagant post-examination celebrations on school premises, including the presentation of expensive gifts such as vehicles and money bouquets.
In a statement dated June 19, 2026, GES said it had observed an increasing trend of lavish celebrations on school campuses.
“Management of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has observed with concern an emerging trend of parents and guardians engaging in flamboyant celebration of their children’s completion of Senior High School,” the statement said.
It added that such celebrations often include expensive gifts on school premises.
“These celebrations are often characterised by the presentation of expensive gifts such as motor vehicles and money bouquets to their children or wards on school premises,” it noted.
GES said while it is not against celebrations, such displays should not take place in schools.
“While Management is not against the practice of parents and guardians celebrating the achievement of their children or wards, Management is against the practice of such ostentatious displays by parents on school premises,” it explained.
It added that the ban is intended to preserve school culture.
“In order to ensure that this practice does not gain roots in the school culture, Management wishes to inform the general public that, henceforth, post-examination celebrations that are characterised by lavish presentation of items such as motor vehicles to students are prohibited on school premises,” it stated.
GES warned that heads of schools will be held accountable.
“Heads of schools who allow this practice on their campus will be sanctioned,” it cautioned.
The Service added that schools are meant to promote equality among students.
“Schools are designed to promote social equalisers where merit and personal effort take priority over economic status,” it said.
It further warned that such displays can create divisions among students.
“Ostentatious displays of wealth by parents on school premises create visible socio-economic divisions, shift the focus from academic achievement to financial privilege, and can foster psychological distress among students whose parents are not able to compete in such flamboyant celebrations,” it added.
GES called on parents and stakeholders to support the directive and uphold discipline in schools.
