Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has stated that the growing number of fraudulent results and forged certificates undermines the West African Examinations Council’s (WAEC) purpose.
According to her, if the matter is not resolved, the credibility of the entire test system could be damaged.
She urged stakeholders to make sure that pupils internalised the principles of honesty and integrity during her speech at the commencement of WAEC’s 74th Annual Council Meeting in Accra on Tuesday.
“We must be clear and consistent in our response, which is to uphold the integrity of our exams, to reject malpractices in all its forms and protect the value of the qualifications we confer. I urge every stakeholder, chiefs, school administrators, opinion leaders, parents, guardians and students to work together to ensure that our children learn the right values of integrity and honesty,” she said.
The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone were among the participating nations.
Established by statute in 1952, WAEC is Africa’s premier examining board. Its duties include determining what tests are necessary for the public interest in English-speaking West African nations, conducting exams, and awarding certificates that are on par with those of analogous authority elsewhere.
Ghana will host this year’s council meeting, which is rotated among the member states.
The increase in exam misconduct, according to Professor Opoku-Agyemang, posed a threat to WAEC’s goals, including upholding academic standards.
“This is not a challenge for the council alone. It speaks to a broader responsibility, that rest with institutions, communities, citizens and especially the students themselves.”
Strict invigilation at all exam administration levels is crucial, the Vice President emphasised.
She stated, “Anyone who helps a student to cheat at exams really hates this person and is already contributing to his or her future failure.”
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang provided assurances that the Ghanaian government would continue to provide the support required to fortify structures, enhance operational effectiveness, and advance sustainability while praising other nations for maintaining WAEC.
She said that for more than 70 years, WAEC had been a practical example of regional cooperation on the continent and had achieved great strides in upholding educational standards through reliable exams.
The Vice President pointed out that the strict procedures the council had protected over the years had produced many notable citizens.
“In a rapidly developing world, driven by technology, it is essential that an assessment body like WAEC develop assessment tools to evaluate not only the knowledge students have gained but also challenge them to be creative and critical thinkers so they can compete successfully with their peers worldwide.”
According to Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, the quality of education offered now will have a significant impact on the subregion’s future academic development, regional mobility, and economic integration.
“Therefore, the innovative mechanisms implemented to ensure fairness, transparency and economic and integrity in the exam processes are commendable.”
The Council’s International Excellence Award winners of the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates were also given diplomas and cash awards during the event.
Huda Suglo Suleman and Paula Adzo Elinam Sowu, two former Legacy Girls College students, won first and second place, respectively, while Matthea Aba Andoh, a former Hope College student, took third place. Three Ghanaian women won the most prizes.
The Vice President expressed gratitude to the three Ghanaian students for their accomplishments at the WAEC Excellence Awards.
“May this achievement inspire parents and educators to nurture talents, regardless of gender or background.”
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang urged students to take inspiration from the recipients of the awards, highlighting their diligence and self-control.
“Let every prospective candidate to choose discipline and focus and resist any temptation to use dishonest methods to pass exams.”
She tasked council members with using the gathering to come up with creative solutions to raise standards in West Africa and promote regional collaboration.
Source: newsthemegh.com