The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has issued a strong warning to candidates sitting for the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), cautioning that any form of assault on examination officials could result in the cancellation of results and a ban from future examinations.
The caution was delivered by WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, John Kapi, during an interview on Channel One News on Sunday, May 3, ahead of the nationwide exams scheduled to begin on Monday, May 4.
According to him, the council is intensifying efforts to curb examination malpractice and enforce discipline, urging candidates to strictly adhere to all rules throughout the examination period.
Mr Kapi emphasised that beyond misconduct such as assaulting invigilators or supervisors, candidates found in possession of prohibited items — particularly mobile phones — will face severe consequences.
“For mobile phone infractions, your entire results will be cancelled. Any candidate who enters the examination hall with a mobile phone risks losing all their results,” he stated.
He further advised candidates to arrive at their examination centres at least 30 minutes before the start of each paper. He stressed that once the official start time is announced, latecomers will not be allowed into the examination hall.
WAEC also warned candidates against bringing unauthorised materials such as prepared notes, smartwatches, and calculators, or attempting to receive external assistance during the exams.
The 2026 BECE is expected to see the participation of 620,141 candidates from 20,395 schools across Ghana. The figure includes 304,349 boys and 315,792 girls, marking an increase of 16,813 candidates — representing a 2.7 per cent rise compared to the 603,328 candidates who sat for the examination in 2025.
The council says the strict measures are aimed at preserving the credibility and integrity of the BECE, which plays a crucial role in determining placement into senior high schools nationwide.
By: Janice Opoku-Agyemang
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