The 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), which began yesterday, June 11, with over 600,000 candidates nationwide, has already seen 10 individuals arrested for examination malpractices, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has disclosed. These culprits have been handed over to the police for immediate investigation and prosecution.
Ghana has long grappled with persistent issues of examination irregularities in both the BECE and the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). Common offenses include collusion, possession of unauthorized materials, and impersonation during examinations. Such breaches carry severe consequences, including the cancellation and withholding of results pending thorough investigations.
John Kapi, WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, revealed troubling details about the incidents. “These 10 culprits have been handed over to law enforcement agencies. Their actions are criminal under WAEC law, and the police will now work to prosecute them in court,” he stated.
Among the specific cases, Kapi highlighted that “one supervisor who had a mobile phone… had taken smart shots of the questions and posted them on social media.” Additionally, “six other invigilators were found with mobile phones containing pictures of the examination questions.” He further disclosed that “a woman who described herself as a fashion designer was caught with photocopied answers she intended to distribute to candidates.” Those implicated also included a student nurse and a private school administrator.
Kapi praised the swift action of WAEC officials, explaining that monitors quickly apprehended individuals actively attempting to solve questions and pass answers to candidates inside exam halls. He added that investigations are ongoing, with WAEC “still gathering reports from other centres that could not be reached yesterday.”
Further measures to combat malpractice are also in effect. Kapi noted that he had briefed the National Investigations Bureau in the Ahafo Region, sharing details of identified hotspots, and received assurances that personnel would be deployed to maintain order. He also confirmed that the Ghana Education Service (GES) has dispatched its own personnel to assist in monitoring examination centers nationwide. “Our own personnel are out there too, and we believe this increased presence will deter anyone considering engaging in malpractice,” he concluded.
