The Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS) has called on government to reduce the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) registration fees charged to private schools, describing the latest increase as excessive and unfair.
The appeal was made by GNAPS President, Professor Damasus Tuurusong, during the launch of the 2026 GNAPS Week celebration in Ejisu in the Ashanti Region.
Professor Tuurusong said that although Ghana’s economy has shown signs of improvement, including reduced inflation and lower fuel prices, BECE registration fees for private school candidates have increased by more than 20 per cent. He disclosed that this year’s fees rose by 24.24 per cent, a situation he described as unconscionable.
He urged government to reset the charges to reflect current economic conditions, warning that the rising fees are placing a heavy financial burden on private schools and their students.
The GNAPS president noted that although the association mounted a strong campaign to reverse this year’s increase, the effort did not yield the expected outcome. He, however, stressed that the decision to suspend the campaign was strategic and not a sign of surrender, and called on parents, school owners, students, alumni and partners to support future efforts against fee hikes.
Professor Tuurusong also appealed to statutory bodies, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives and the Ghana Revenue Authority, to adopt a more moderate and supportive approach in dealing with schools.
He criticised the EPA in particular for imposing heavy fines on schools operating without permits and shutting down some institutions without giving them sufficient time to regularise their status, describing the actions as excessive in a critical sector such as education.