19 supervisors and invigilators arrested for 2026 BECE malpractice

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has picked up 19 supervisors and invigilators in six regions for their alleged involvement in examination malpractice in the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

A total of 10 of them are from the Ashanti Region, three from Eastern, while two each from the Bono and Central regions.

Already, the two in the Bono Region have been taken to court and fined GH¢2,400 each.

A source from WAEC, Graphic Online’s Education Editor, Severious Kale Dery that, the rest of them have been handed over to the police to be processed for court.

As a follow up to this, the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has cautioned all stakeholders involved in the conduct of the 2026 BECE against any form of examination malpractice in the ongoing examination.

Cautioning stakeholders, including candidates, teachers, heads of schools, invigilators, and supervisors, he said, despite the stern warning, “some unscrupulous persons have decided to do otherwise.”

“It has, therefore, become necessary for the Ministry to reiterate the Minister’s warning. We are of the firm conviction that any individual complicit in examination malpractice is an enemy of the state and would be dealt with ruthlessly,” a statement signed and issued by the Deputy Minister, Dr Clement Apaak, said.

Enemy of state

The statement said any candidate found cheating, whether through possession of unauthorised materials, collusion or seeking external assistance, risked having his/her results cancelled.

“Teachers, invigilators, supervisors and school authorities who aid, abet or ignore malpractice will face severe consequences, including dismissal, interdiction and possible prosecution. Professional misconduct during national examinations will not be excused.

“Our resolve to boldly address the dangerous phenomenon of examination malpractice is an affirmation of the government’s firm commitment to protecting the integrity of national examinations, and any malpractice will not be tolerated under any circumstances,” the statement stressed.

Previous cases

It reminded those who thought they could get away with compromising the national examinations, and thereby corrupt the learners, to be guided by the plight of those who tried such last year.

The statement said that of the 40 persons caught involved in facilitating cheating last year, eight had been convicted and sentenced, and 32 were still being processed by the appropriate entities and courts. 

It added that the eight convicted persons had automatically lost their jobs, “because they are unfit to be teachers and will be taken off the payroll of the Ghana Education Service, as announced by the Minister for Education”.

The statement said the ministry, in collaboration with the GES, WAEC, and the security agencies, had deployed strict monitoring and enforcement measures across all 2,303 examination centres.

“Any attempt to compromise the integrity of the 2026 BECE will attract immediate and severe sanctions. We take this opportunity to again wish the candidates the best of luck,” the statement concluded.

Source: Graphic online.com