By Prince Ahenkorah
The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has issued a stern warning to all stakeholders involved in the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), cautioning against any form of examination malpractice as the nationwide exercise continues.
The warning targets candidates, teachers, headmasters, invigilators, and supervisors, with the Ministry emphasizing that the ongoing examination, scheduled to end on May 11, 2026, must be conducted with the highest level of integrity.
In a statement released on May 6, 2026, and signed by the Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, the Ministry expressed concern over reported cases of malpractice recorded on the first day of the examination.
According to the statement, the West African Examinations Council documented seven cases of examination malpractice involving teachers and invigilators across the Central, Bono, and Ashanti Regions.
Despite prior warnings, the Ministry noted that “some unscrupulous persons decided to do otherwise,” prompting a renewed caution and firm stance against offenders.
The statement stressed that any individual found complicit in examination malpractice would be treated as an enemy of the state and dealt with decisively.
Candidates caught engaging in cheating, whether through possession of unauthorized materials, collusion, or seeking external assistance risk having their results cancelled.
Similarly, teachers, invigilators, supervisors, and school authorities who aid, facilitate, or ignore malpractice will face severe sanctions, including dismissal, interdiction, and possible prosecution.
“Professional misconduct during national examinations will not be excused,” the statement emphasized.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the credibility of Ghana’s examination system, describing malpractice as a dangerous phenomenon that undermines the future of learners and the integrity of education.
It further referenced last year’s enforcement actions, revealing that out of 40 individuals caught facilitating cheating, eight have already been convicted and sentenced, while 32 others are still undergoing legal processes.
The convicted individuals have lost their jobs and are to be removed from the payroll of the Ghana Education Service, in line with directives from the Minister.
To strengthen monitoring, the Ministry disclosed that it is working in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service, WAEC, and security agencies to enforce strict supervision across all 2,303 examination centres nationwide.
Authorities warn that any attempt to compromise the integrity of the 2026 BECE will attract immediate and severe consequences.
The Ministry wished all candidates success in their examinations while urging them to adhere strictly to the rules governing the conduct of the exams.