More than 40 invigilators have been prohibited from overseeing this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) as the Ghana Education Service (GES) intensifies efforts to curb examination malpractice.
The sanctions come after investigations revealed that the affected officials were involved in various forms of misconduct during last year’s examinations, raising serious concerns about the integrity and fairness of the system.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on April 30, Director-General of the Ghana Education Service, Professor Ernest Davis, disclosed that the offences ranged from assisting candidates with answers to enabling cheating through the use of mobile devices.
He emphasized that barring the invigilators from examination duties is only the initial step, adding that further disciplinary actions are underway. According to him, affected individuals will be referred to the appropriate professional bodies for additional sanctions once investigations are finalized.
GES data shows that 17 of the sanctioned invigilators were involved in mobile phone-related offences, including allegedly providing devices to candidates during exams. Another 13 were caught distributing prepared answers, while six were found actively solving questions for students in examination halls.
Further cases included four instances involving unauthorized materials, three organized malpractice schemes, and one case where a parent reportedly attempted to bribe an invigilator.
Professor Davis noted that beyond the administrative sanctions, efforts are being made to prosecute those found guilty in accordance with the law.
The crackdown comes as Ghana prepares for this year’s BECE, with a total of 620,141 candidates expected to participate. This figure includes 304,349 boys and 315,792 girls from 20,395 schools nationwide, representing a 2.7 percent increase from last year’s 603,328 candidates.
GES also announced adjustments to the school selection process. Candidates will now finalize their selection of senior high schools after the release of their results, although the process will begin immediately after the examinations.
Authorities estimate there will be enough time to complete placements before the new academic year begins on September 18, 2026.
Additionally, candidates will now be allowed to select up to two Category A schools, increasing the total number of school choices from seven to eight.
Support for Candidates in Conflict Areas
Addressing concerns about candidates in conflict-affected areas, Professor Davis assured that adequate measures have been put in place to guarantee their participation.
He revealed that, in collaboration with national security agencies, affected students may be relocated to safer communities to enable them to sit for the examinations.
The GES maintains that these interventions are part of broader efforts to safeguard the credibility of the BECE and ensure fairness for all candidates nationwide.
