By Patrick Teah, Jr.
Grand Kru County — Authorities have suspended the Acting Principal of Barclayville Central High School, Mr. Johnny Toe, following allegations that he imposed an unauthorized LD$5,000 “project fee” on 12th-grade students without approval from the Ministry of Education.
The action follows an investigation ordered by County Education Officer Josiah Sloh Negba, which found that the fee was introduced without consultation with school authorities or the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA).
Parents and community members have strongly condemned the move, describing it as exploitation of already struggling families in a county where many depend on subsistence livelihoods.
A committee comprising district education officers, a PTA representative, and the county’s Monitoring and Evaluation Officer concluded that the Acting Principal acted unilaterally. Authorities have since ordered a full refund of the money collected and launched further proceedings.
The case has deepened after reports revealed that LD$5,500 was also collected from last year’s graduating class. A second investigation is now underway to trace those funds and determine if others were involved.
Education stakeholders in Grand Kru are calling for stronger oversight and accountability, warning that such practices threaten access to education for vulnerable students.
Mr. Toe declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.
