The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has expressed grave concern over a worrying surge in examination malpractice in Ghana’s Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo regions — areas that have consistently recorded the highest incidences of cheating in both basic and secondary school examinations from 2021 to 2023.
The troubling trend was brought to national attention at the recent National Stakeholders Conference on Examination Malpractices, where senior WAEC officials warned of its long-term consequences on the country’s education system and professional standards.
Speaking at the conference, Mr. Daniel Nii Dodoo, Head of Humanities at WAEC, sounded a stark warning on the implications of unchecked academic dishonesty.
“This trend is worrying and calls for urgent intervention,” Mr. Dodoo emphasized. “It threatens the very credibility of our education system and risks undermining public confidence in our academic institutions.”
His remarks were reinforced by WAEC Ghana’s Head, Dr. Rosemond Wilson, who made a heartfelt appeal for a nationwide, multi-stakeholder approach to address the malpractice epidemic.
“Certificates must reflect hard work and true merit, not dishonest shortcuts,” Dr. Wilson said. “If we continue to tolerate exam fraud, we will be producing ill-prepared professionals, especially in vital sectors such as healthcare and education — a risk our nation cannot afford.”
The alarming trend has sparked renewed calls for action from educators, policymakers, and civil society leaders to strengthen oversight, improve exam monitoring systems, and instil ethical values in students from an early age.
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Despite the growing concerns, WAEC remains confident in its preparedness to conduct the upcoming 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), which begins this month.
John Kapi, WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, outlined the council’s readiness measures, noting that extensive sensitisation campaigns have been carried out nationwide to educate candidates, invigilators, supervisors, and education authorities about the consequences of malpractice and their roles in safeguarding the examination process.
“We are prepared and confident that all stakeholders understand their roles and responsibilities to ensure a fair and credible examination,” Mr. Kapi affirmed.
As the 2025 BECE kicks off, WAEC reiterated its unwavering commitment to preserving the integrity of Ghana’s examinations and called on the entire nation to rally behind efforts to eliminate cheating from its classrooms.
“The fight against exam malpractice is not WAEC’s battle alone — it is a collective responsibility,” Mr. Dodoo concluded.
WAEC’s message is clear: without swift and sustained intervention, the culture of academic dishonesty threatens not just individual futures, but the very foundations of Ghana’s development.
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