By: Belinda Nketia
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has revealed that most reports it receives on examination malpractices involving invigilators point to financial motivation as the main driver.
Head of Public Affairs at WAEC, John Kapi, speaking on the GTV Breakfast Show on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, explained that although the Council has not conducted a scientific study into the issue, anonymous complaints suggest that some school authorities and invigilators are collecting money from candidates in exchange for illegal assistance in the examination hall.
He explained that candidates are often charged varying amounts depending on the paper. “In some areas, we are told more is demanded for core subjects and less for electives. In other cases, students are asked to pay a token as they enter the hall,” he noted.
Mr. Kapi also said it is difficult to determine whether all invigilators at a particular centre are involved, since most of the information comes from anonymous sources. He, however, recounted a case from two years ago when a teacher was picked up for questioning after allegedly moving around an examination hall to check which students had paid.
In addition, several heads of schools have been summoned by the Ghana Education Service (GES) over suspicions that they collected money from candidates to support malpractice schemes.
To curb the practice this year, WAEC issued a circular to all heads of schools cautioning them against collecting money for exam assistance. “We asked that if indeed it’s something they are doing, they should desist. If not, we’ll have no option but to report them to the GES and, of course, to the police so that action can be taken,” he warned.
Mr. Kapi added that while WAEC cannot always verify the allegations, the pattern of reports consistently points to monetary incentives as the main motivation for malpractice.
