The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has assured candidates of adequate security during the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). The council says special arrangements have been made to ensure smooth conduct of the WASSCE in high-risk and conflict-prone zones.
Head of Public Affairs of WAEC, John Kapi, said the council has identified regions with recurring issues of examination malpractice and insecurity. “We have some hotspots across the country. Normally, we wouldn’t want to mention them before the examination for very good reasons,” he noted.
However, he revealed that Bono East, Central, and Ashanti regions have recorded high cases of malpractice in previous WASSCE sittings. According to him, WAEC has increased its presence in such areas to curb the activities of malpractice cartels involving teachers, invigilators, supervisors, and even townspeople.
He added that WAEC continues to collaborate with the Ghana Police Service and the National Intelligence Bureau to monitor rogue websites and clamp down on fraudulent activities linked to the WASSCE.
Security for conflict-prone zones
Speaking on areas affected by insecurity, Mr. Kapi cited Bawku as a major concern. He explained that during the previous BECE examination, earlier this year, WAEC operated a depot in Zebilla, where officials collected papers under police escort to Bawku.
“So from Zebilla the examination officials, that is, the district exam officials, would drive under police escort to Zebilla, pick up the questions, go back, have the candidates write, and then return the scripts to our depot keeper at Zebilla. That’s what we did, and that’s the same thing we wanted to replicate for the WASSCE,” he explained.
He also revealed that boarding arrangements have now been made for WASSCE candidates in Bawku to avoid commuting during the examinations.
Safety in other regions
Mr. Kapi added that WAEC has also taken steps in Zuarungu, Nalerigu, and Nkwanta to guarantee safe examinations. Local authorities in these areas, he said, have assured WAEC of adequate security support.
He added that they were in constant touch with other personnel in the region to address the security situation.
He said, “We are in constant touch with our personnel in the region so that they give us feedback as to what the security situation is and then what can be done about it. But for now, we believe that whatever measures have been put in place are going to work for the smooth conduct of the examination.”
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