Story: News Desk

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 the public to disregard it. 

The Service clarified that the Free SHS policy remained in effect and that the Director-General had not issued any directive requiring parents or guardians to pay for chop boxes, trunks or any other items. 

It further explained that the Director-General did not have the authority to cancel the Free SHS policy. 

The GES consequently advised parents, guardians and students not to make any payments to individuals based on the claims circulating on social media. 

The Service urged the public to rely only on official information communicated through authorised GES channels and to exercise caution when dealing with unverified publications on social media. 

It 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 general public.