WAEC Relocates 936 WASSCE Candidates from Adventist SHS-Bantama Over Alleged Malpractice
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has shut down the Adventist Senior High School-Bantama examination centre in Kumasi following reports of widespread malpractice during the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The decision, announced on September 4, 2025, during a monitoring tour led by Kumasi Mayor Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, affects 936 candidates who sat for the English Language paper on Thursday. These students have been reassigned to continue their exams under strict supervision at WAEC’s regional office in Kumasi.
Kumasi Metro Director of Education, David Oppong, described the incident as “unfortunate” and confirmed that a thorough investigation is underway to determine the extent of the malpractice. “The incident that we’ve recorded has to do with an Adventist Senior High School—allegations of examination malpractices. So we are yet to do a thorough investigation,” Oppong stated, urging the public to remain patient. He noted that the matter has been reported to the Regional Director, and the affected students have been bused to the WAEC office to continue their examinations.
The closure follows the seizure of several mobile phones from candidates at the centre, as confirmed by WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, John Kapi, during a press briefing. The malpractice is part of a broader issue, with WAEC reporting 43 arrests nationwide in 2025, including 14 during the WASSCE for involvement in similar infractions at centres like Yeji Senior High School and Atwima Kwanwoma Presbyterian SHS. Kapi warned that results from implicated schools will face rigorous scrutiny, with potential cancellations pending investigation outcomes.
Oppong emphasized the need for vigilance among invigilators and supervisors, stating, “The advice that we continue to give to the invigilators and supervisors is that they have to be extra careful. We are training the young ones to take over from us as leaders. So if we continue to allow and encourage some of these things in our schools, it means that we are destroying the nation.” He assured that the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ministry of Education will enforce strict adherence to examination rules to prevent future violations.
The incident has raised concerns about the integrity of Ghana’s education system, with civil society groups like Africa Education Watch warning of a culture of corruption. This follows a JoyNews exposé revealing GES officials accepting GH¢60 to facilitate cheating in the 2025 BECE, highlighting systemic issues in exam administration. Public reactions on X express dismay, with one user stating, “936 students moved over malpractice? This is a wake-up call for stricter oversight.” Others called for technology-driven solutions like CCTV monitoring in exam halls.
WAEC has pledged to conduct a thorough investigation, with results from Adventist SHS-Bantama under review. The council’s actions align with its broader efforts to combat malpractice, as seen in the cancellation of 3,647 BECE candidates’ results in 2024 and the arrest of six teachers during that exam cycle.
