Addressing the 74th Annual Council Meeting of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) in Accra, Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has issued a stern warning against the rising tide of falsified results and forged certificates. She described the trend as a direct threat to the regional credibility that the council has built over the last
74 years.
The meeting, which rotates among member states—The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone—serves as the primary governance platform for Africa’s foremost examining board.
1. The Threat to "Educational Currency"
The Vice President emphasized that a certificate is only as valuable as the trust behind it. If left unchecked, the "growing incidence" of fraud risks devaluing West African qualifications on the international stage.
-
The "Hate" of Cheating: In a blunt assessment, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang stated, "Anyone who helps a student to cheat at exams really hates this person and is already contributing to his or her future failure."
-
Stakeholder Responsibility: She called for a "Values Reset," urging chiefs, school administrators, parents, and opinion leaders to move beyond strict invigilation and instead help students "imbibe the values of integrity."
2. Innovation and Technology in Assessment
As the world becomes increasingly driven by technology, the Vice President charged WAEC to evolve its assessment tools. The goal is to move beyond mere rote memorization toward evaluating creativity and critical thinking.
WAEC's Evolutionary Goals for 2026: | Area | Strategy | | :--- | :--- | | Integrity | Implementation of innovative mechanisms to ensure fairness and transparency. | | Assessment | Developing tools to challenge students to be competitive global peers. | | Sustainability | Government of Ghana commitment to improve operational efficiency. | | Collaboration | Strengthening regional mobility and economic integration through shared standards. |
3. A Historic Clean Sweep: Ghana’s WASSCE Excellence
The highlight of the council meeting was the presentation of the International Excellence Awards for the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). In a historic performance, three female students from Ghana swept all three top continental spots.
2025 WASSCE International Excellence Award Winners:
-
Huda Suglo Suleman (1st Prize): Former student of Legacy Girls College, Ghana.
-
Paula Adzo Elinam Sowu (2nd Prize): Former student of Legacy Girls College, Ghana.
-
Matthea Aba Andoh (3rd Prize): Former student of Hope College, Ghana.
The Vice President congratulated the winners, noting that their achievement should inspire parents to nurture talent regardless of gender or background, proving that "discipline and focus" are the only legitimate paths to success.
4. Supporting the Regional Anchor
Established in 1952, WAEC remains a "pragmatic example of regional collaboration." Prof. Opoku-Agyemang reaffirmed the Government of Ghana’s support to strengthen the council’s structures. She noted that the future of regional mobility and economic integration in the sub-region depends entirely on the quality and credibility of the education provided today.
The Bottom Line
The 74th WAEC Council Meeting is a "Credibility Reset." By calling out forged certificates and celebrating the hard-earned success of the 2025 award winners, the Vice President has set a clear tone for the year: Ghana will support the technology and the values required to keep the WAEC certificate a gold standard in global education.
