Just a day after the start of the 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has reported 10 cases of examination malpractice across the country. The examination, which began on June 11, has over 600,000 candidates registered nationwide.
According to WAEC, the individuals involved have been handed over to the police for investigation and possible prosecution.
Ghana continues to face significant challenges with examination irregularities during both BECE and the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). Common offences include impersonation, collusion, and possession of unauthorised materials—offences that could result in the cancellation or withholding of results.
John Kapi, shared troubling details about the breaches.
“These 10 culprits have been handed over to law enforcement agencies. Their actions are criminal under WAEC regulations, and the police are now handling the prosecution process,” he stated.
Mr. Kapi revealed that one examination supervisor was found using a mobile phone to take photos of the exam questions and post them on social media. Additionally, six invigilators were caught with phones containing images of the test papers.
In another incident, a woman claiming to be a fashion designer was caught with photocopied answers intended for distribution to candidates. Other individuals implicated include a student nurse and a private school administrator.
WAEC officials, aided by exam monitors, moved quickly to apprehend suspects who were actively attempting to pass answers to candidates during the exams.
“Investigations are still ongoing. We’re continuing to gather reports from centres we couldn’t reach on the first day,” Mr. Kapi added.
He also noted that preventive measures are being intensified. WAEC has engaged the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) in the Ahafo Region, sharing information about potential hotspots for exam malpractice. The NIB has pledged to deploy personnel to maintain order in those areas.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has also assigned officials to support monitoring efforts at exam centres across the country.
“Our staff are on the ground, and with the added presence of security and monitoring teams, we believe these efforts will serve as a strong deterrent against further malpractice,” Mr. Kapi concluded.
