The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has revealed that the Ghana Education Service (GES) holds significant control over key aspects of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
Speaking on JoyNews on September 8, WAEC’s Director of Public Affairs, John Kapi, clarified that while WAEC oversees the exam’s administration, decisions like selecting supervisors and invigilators are made by GES.
“For instance, district exam officers choose supervisors and invigilators,” Kapi explained. He emphasized that when irregularities occur, WAEC relies on GES to take swift action against those responsible. “Once we report issues, we expect GES to act appropriately,” he said.
This statement follows a JoyNews Hotline investigation by Francisca Enchil, which exposed widespread misconduct at two Accra exam centers—Derby Avenue RC Basic School and St. George’s Anglican Basic School. The investigation uncovered invigilators demanding GH¢60 daily “tokens,” supervisors accepting GH¢400 bribes, and candidates contributing to a so-called “Aseda Offertory.”
Kapi condemned the actions, stating, “These individuals have failed to uphold the trust placed in them.” He confirmed that WAEC’s strictest penalty is permanently blacklisting culprits, barring them from future involvement in WAEC activities.
The scandal has raised concerns about the integrity of the BECE process, with calls for stronger oversight and accountability.
