The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has expressed deep concern over the escalating incidence of examination malpractice in the country, particularly in the Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo regions.
According to WAEC, a total of 18,504 candidates were caught engaging in various forms of cheating and misconduct during examinations in 2023. Projections for 2024 suggest little improvement.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum, Daniel Nii Dodoo, Head of Humanities at WAEC’s Test Division, warned that the trend poses a serious threat to national security, undermines the integrity of educational institutions, and erodes public confidence in the system.
“Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo regions had the highest number of candidates with malpractice cases—18,504 in 2023. These are critical areas requiring immediate attention given their rising trend in malpractice involvement,” Mr. Dodoo stated.
He called for urgent intervention in the affected regions, citing the rapidly rising malpractice rates. The Ashanti Region was also identified as a critical area of concern due to its growing number of irregularities.
WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, John Kapi, highlighted common methods used by candidates to cheat, including the use of electronic communication devices, sourcing answers from AI platforms, photocopying responses, and entering the exam hall with foreign materials.
“Over the years, the Council has observed the following trends in examination malpractices: the use of electronic communication devices such as phones and tablets to cheat, sourcing answers from AI platforms during examinations, photocopying responses and distributing them to candidates, and candidates entering the exam hall with foreign materials,” Mr. Kapi said.
WAEC is calling for enhanced collaboration among key stakeholders, including the Ghana Education Service, the Ministry of Education, school heads, and local authorities, to help curb the problem nationwide.
The council emphasized that unchecked examination malpractice has far-reaching consequences, including the devaluation of certificates at the international level.
Mr. Dodoo stressed that individuals who cheat their way through exams risk being exposed in the professional world, adding that such practices could lead to inadequately prepared professionals.