Some parents are accusing some of the country’s Senior High Schools (SHSs) of charging unapproved fees ahead of reopening day on Friday. Some of the schools accused of charging the fees are Achimota School, Mfantsipim School, Methodist Girls - Akuampim, and Aburi Girls. Parents of students entering their first year have told Joy News that apart from the traditional government fees, PTA dues and other approved fees, schools are charging between 350 and 900 Ghana Cedis before admitting students. One parent whose ward is preparing for first year in Achimota School complained bitterly about what she sees as exploitation. She said all the parents whose wards are freshers have been asked to pay GH¢405 each if they want their wards to be boarders. She is even more enraged by the short notice given parents to pay the money. According to the Chairman of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) of Achimota School, Haruna Nelson, the payment is for students who wish to be boarders. He said the headmistress of the school had declared her intention to make all first year students day students because the school could not afford to accommodate them. Recognizing the difficulty in having to take their wards to the school on a daily basis, the parents themselves decided to make some contribution to help the school authorities to fast-track the completion of ongoing projects to afford the students admission to the boarding house. He said when the issue about the levies was put to a vote, over 200 parents endorsed it, as opposed to six who disagreed. Mr Nelson said the PTA didn’t require government approval to levy its members for the benefit of their children. He said money promised by the government to complete the projects was delaying and parents could not look on while the future of their children was at stake. Source: Joy News/Ghana