Ghana is set to rejoin four other West African countries for the May–June West African Senior School Certificate Examination for School Candidates (WASSCE-SC) this year, marking a return to the regional examination calendar after five years.
The Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Professor Ernest Kofi Davis, confirmed the development, stating that the country will once again participate in the international examination alongside other members of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).
“Yes, we are returning to the international exams, so we are writing May–June with the other West African countries,” he said.
Ghana had followed a separate examination schedule in recent years after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted academic calendars across the region. In 2020, WAEC postponed the WASSCE-SC from its usual May–June period to July–September, with similar adjustments made in 2021.
While countries such as Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone and The Gambia later reverted to the traditional May–June calendar, Ghana continued with its own version of the examination until now.
With this year’s return, Ghanaian candidates will once again sit the same examination as their counterparts across the sub-region, beginning with practical and project work scheduled for next month.
Professor Davis noted that preparations for the transition began last year, with schools nationwide already informed to adequately prepare their candidates.
He expressed optimism about Ghana’s performance, stating that the country aims to rank among the top performers in the examination.
“We are encouraging our students to do their best to continue to keep Ghana in the limelight,” he said.
The GES Director-General also urged candidates to rely on hard work and avoid examination malpractice, stressing that there would be no external assistance during the exams.
“They should study hard and do their best. Success will definitely be theirs,” he advised.
He further encouraged teachers to provide the necessary support to ensure students are well-prepared, adding that credible results would help assess the true performance of the country’s education system.
The return to the regional examination calendar is expected to restore alignment with other WAEC member states and strengthen the integrity and comparability of results across West Africa.
