Private school owners in Accra are pushing back against the Ghana Education Service government directive banning graduation ceremonies, calling it "primitive" and "unfair to thousands of students."

The Greater Accra Regional Education Directorate of the Ghana Education Service has ordered all pre-tertiary schools in the region, including private schools, to halt graduation ceremonies, prom nights, and leavers’ celebrations with immediate effect.

In a communique issued to school heads, the Directorate said: "The attention of the Regional Education Directorate has been drawn to planned graduation ceremonies being organised by the management of some schools within the Greater Accra Region. You are hereby reminded that the Ministry of Education has placed a total ban on graduation ceremonies, prom nights, leavers' celebrations, and related activities involving pupils and students of pre-tertiary educational institutions (both public and private)."

 "In view of the foregoing, you are hereby directed to immediately suspend and discontinue all preparations and activities related to the aforementioned events. Consequently, no proprietor, proprietor's representative, teacher, parent association, school management committee, or any other stakeholder shall organise, sponsor, facilitate, or permit the organisation of such activities under the auspices of the school until further notice."

The Ministry of Education moved after viral social media videos showed parents giving extravagant gifts and organising lavish send-off parties for graduating students.

According to the GES letter, the ban is "intended to promote discipline, equity, and child protection, while preventing undue financial burden on parents and guardians."

But several private school proprietors say a blanket ban punishes everyone for the actions of a few.

Economist and Educationist, Professor Peter Quartey, himself a proprietor, on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, described the ban as a knee-jerk action that must be reviewed, arguing that while the intention was good, to curb the excesses that attend such events in some schools, policy guidelines rather than a total ban, including on ‘related activities’, cannot be the solution.

"It's also vague to me, very vague. We grew up in this country with graduation ceremonies, speech and prize-giving ceremonies and all other related activities. These occasions provide opportunities to reward hardworking students, recognise dedicated teachers and celebrate achievement," Professor Quartey said.

"Inasmuch as I agree that there are excesses which need to be curbed, if you want to curb excesses, you provide guidelines and directions. You don't ban. I think this is a knee-jerk reaction," he stressed.

Other proprietors who also oppose the ban, spoke on condition of anonymity.

“It is unacceptable that the GES placed a total ban on graduations for all schools just because some parents went off the mark. This is unprecedented and, to say the least, archaic,” a school manager in Cantonment, Accra said.

“Graduation ceremonies are key components of our annual calendar. We use them not only to acknowledge and reward students who excel, but also to honour hardworking staff and bring all stakeholders together,” said another proprietor in East Legon.

They are calling on the Ministry and GES to reverse the directive and instead issue guidelines to regulate celebrations.

“This decision is not forward-looking and definitely not sustainable,” one owner said. “What the government should do is provide us with guidelines that curb excesses, not a total ban for all schools.”

Another added: “Trust me, many schools are already planning how to defy this order and organise the ceremonies in a different way.”