Investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni has criticised the growing trend of parents and guardians presenting expensive gifts to Senior High School graduates on school premises, describing the practice as a display of vanity that could send the wrong message to young people.
His comments come amid a national debate over the increasing display of bouquets, cars and other costly gifts during graduation ceremonies at some second-cycle institutions.
The debate intensified after the Ghana Education Service (GES) warned that headteachers who permit gift presentations on school campuses would be held accountable, as part of efforts to maintain discipline and promote equality among students.
In a Facebook post, Manasseh argued that school authorities should not allow such presentations to take place within educational institutions.
“The school authorities ought to have told the parents to do their presentations at home. They should have proven that their schools are too civilised for such behaviour,” he wrote.
He warned that the public display of wealth at school events could negatively influence impressionable students and contribute to unhealthy societal values.
“Not every young girl witnessing the vanity fair will be disciplined enough to reject a fraudulent boy with a vehicle when the society that breeds her teaches her that showiness is what matters,” he stated.
The journalist further linked the trend to broader concerns about the pursuit of wealth and status among young people, referencing the ritual murder case involving two teenagers in Kasoa that shocked the country several years ago.
“Is there any wonder that teenagers are killing children for money rituals, as we saw in Kasoa a few years ago?” he asked.
Manasseh also criticised school heads who have permitted such displays during graduation ceremonies.
“Shame on the school heads who allowed this to happen. And shame on those who think speaking up against such behaviour amounts to envy,” he added.
The issue has generated mixed reactions on social media, with some supporting the celebrations as a reward for academic achievement, while others argue that the practice creates unnecessary social pressure and deepens inequality among students.
The GES has recently moved to discourage such activities, stressing the need to preserve discipline and ensure that school environments remain focused on education rather than displays of wealth.
