More than 500,000 final-year Senior High School students across Ghana are beginning the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), with the Oral English paper marking the official start of the nationwide exercise.
This year’s examination is significant as Ghana rejoins the regional WASSCE structure alongside other West African countries after several years of administering separate examinations due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) says preparations for the examinations have been completed and adequate measures have been implemented to ensure a smooth and credible process across the country.
Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, May 12, the Head of Public Affairs at WAEC, John Kapi, explained that the council deliberately delayed the printing of examination papers as part of efforts to strengthen security and prevent leakages.
According to him, the decision forms part of broader measures aimed at protecting the integrity of the examinations and reducing opportunities for malpractice.
He also assured candidates, parents and school authorities that all examination materials had been prepared and would be distributed to centres nationwide in line with the official timetable.
WAEC has, in recent years, intensified its anti-malpractice measures through closer collaboration with security agencies, enhanced monitoring systems and tighter control over the handling of examination materials.
The 2026 WASSCE is expected to be conducted at hundreds of examination centres across the country, with candidates sitting for both core and elective subject papers over the coming weeks.
By: Janice Opoku Agyemang
