The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has raised alarm over a surge in examination malpractice during this year’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination for School Candidates (WASSCE-SC).
According to WAEC monitoring teams, irregularities recorded included impersonation, unauthorized use of mobile phones, and the circulation of examination questions and answers.
Despite strict measures put in place by WAEC and the Ghana Education Service (GES), the integrity of the exams has been compromised.
Addressing a press briefing, WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, John Kapi, revealed that 16 individuals had been arrested at various centres, while 64 mobile phones were seized at a single school during the Elective Mathematics paper.
He added that two individuals arrested for impersonation at Ghana College in Kasoa were handed six-month prison sentences, while an accomplice received an eight-month sentence.
At Christian IPS in Kukurantumi, a proprietor and an invigilator were caught operating a WhatsApp group to circulate exam questions and are currently in police custody.
Other incidents were also reported at schools such as St. Vincent College and Yeji Senior High School, though some suspects managed to evade arrest.
Mr. Kapi condemned the involvement of both students and teachers, urging school authorities to uphold the integrity of the examination process.
The council has pledged strict disciplinary action against all persons and schools implicated. Scripts from institutions linked to malpractice will undergo further scrutiny, while a full list of affected schools is being compiled.
Touching on the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), Mr. Kapi disclosed that some withheld results remain under investigation due to suspected collusion, with final decisions expected soon.
This year’s WASSCE-SC, which began on August 5, 2025, will conclude on September 19, 2025, with 461,640 candidates taking part. Earlier, the BECE was held from June 11 to 18, 2025, involving over 603,000 candidates, with provisional results released on August 23, 2025.
WAEC has called on parents, schools, and communities to support its efforts in safeguarding the credibility of Ghana’s examinations, stressing that fairness and integrity remain central to its mandate.
Source: Adomonline
