By Angela Adu-Asomaning
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has raised serious concern over the growing incidence of examination malpractice across the country. The Council has identified the Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo regions as epicentres of this troubling trend.
In 2023 alone, 18,504 candidates were found to have engaged in various forms of cheating and misconduct during examinations. Projections for 2024 suggest little to no improvement.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum, Daniel Nii Dodoo, Head of Humanities at WAEC’s Test Division, warned that the escalating trend poses a serious threat to national security, undermines the integrity of educational institutions, and erodes public confidence in the system.
He called for urgent intervention in the Bono regions, citing their rapidly rising malpractice rates. He also noted that the Ashanti Region remains a critical area of concern due to its growing number of irregularities.
WAEC clarified that the regional breakdown of malpractice cases from 2021 to 2023 is not intended to stigmatise any particular area, but to promote a better understanding of the issue and encourage credible examination practices, particularly in identified hotspot regions.
According to WAEC, the data should prompt regional directors of education to enhance monitoring and supervision and to strictly uphold the regulations governing the conduct of examinations.
Mr Dodoo further stressed that unchecked examination malpractice has far-reaching consequences. He warned that individuals who cheat their way through exams risk being exposed in the professional world and that such practices could lead to the devaluation of certificates at the international level.
“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,” he said.
WAEC also cited common and emerging forms of cheating in schools, expressing deep concern about the increasing sophistication and spread of examination malpractice. These trends, the Council warned, threaten the integrity of the entire education system.
Head of Public Affairs at WAEC, John Kapi, highlighted the most common methods used:
“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.”
In response to the growing trend, 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.
