The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has raised serious concerns over the growing threat of examination malpractice across the sub-region, warning that the credibility of its certification system is at risk if urgent action is not taken.
This formed a central highlight of the 74th Annual Council Meeting of WAEC, which concluded in Accra, Ghana, after a week-long deliberation on the future of educational assessment in West Africa.
Declaring the meeting open, Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, warned that increasing incidents of fraud, ranging from result falsification to certificate forgery, pose a significant danger to the integrity of WAEC examinations.
“The plethora of fraudsters, all too ready to falsify results and alter certificates, threatens the very core of WAEC’s mandate,” he said.
Represented by the Vice President of Ghana, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, he stressed that safeguarding the credibility of examinations is a collective responsibility, urging governments, institutions, and citizens to uphold values of honesty and integrity.
The meeting, held from March 24 to 28, 2026, brought together delegates from WAEC’s five member countries (The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone) to review operations, assess challenges, and chart a way forward for the regional examination body.
Beyond the concerns over malpractice, the Council reaffirmed WAEC’s longstanding role as a cornerstone of educational development in West Africa. President Mahama described the institution as “one of the most successful examples of regional collaboration on the African continent,” noting that millions of professionals across the region are products of its examination system.
Also speaking at the event, Ghana’s Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, represented by Deputy Minister Dr. Clement Apaak, underscored the importance of examinations not just as a screening mechanism, but as a tool for developing human capital critical to national growth.
In a major policy announcement, the Ghanaian government confirmed its return to the international version of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates, beginning with the 2026 diet. The move is expected to strengthen regional comparability and boost student competitiveness.
The Council meeting also celebrated academic excellence, honouring three Ghanaian students for outstanding performance in the 2025 WASSCE. Miss Huda Suglo Suleman emerged as the overall best candidate in West Africa, clinching the prestigious Augustus Bandele Oyediran Award, ahead of over 2.6 million candidates across the sub-region.
In addition, Professor William Afiakwa Asomaning was conferred with the Distinguished Friend of Council Award in recognition of his contributions to WAEC’s development.
During the meeting, Council reviewed key operational reports, including the Registrar’s Annual Report covering April 2025 to March 2026, and deliberated on strategic measures to strengthen examination processes and institutional effectiveness.
The 31st Annual Endowment Fund Lecture, delivered by Professor George K. T. Oduro, focused on “Fostering Assessment Integrity within the Context of Credentialism,” reinforcing the meeting’s central theme of restoring trust in educational certification.
At the close of proceedings, Chairman of Council, Professor Thomas B. R. Yormah, expressed appreciation to the Government and people of Ghana for hosting the meeting and reaffirmed WAEC’s commitment to maintaining high standards.
The Council also announced that Nigeria will host the 75th Annual Meeting in March 2027, continuing the rotational tradition among member states.
As West Africa grapples with evolving educational challenges, the strong warning from WAEC signals a renewed push to protect the integrity of examinations.
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