President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has hailed the 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results as the best in the history of the exams in Ghana.

Speaking during his final State of the Nation Address in Parliament, the president highlighted the historic achievements of Ghanaian students, crediting the success to his government’s Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy and education reforms.

“The 2023 WASSCE results stand out as the best in the history of the examination. Our reforms have not only expanded access but also enhanced the quality of education,” the President stated.

President Akufo-Addo noted that the introduction of Free SHS in 2017 transformed Ghana’s education system by making secondary education accessible to millions of students who would otherwise have been excluded due to financial constraints. He emphasised that the policy had dismantled the perception that secondary education was a privilege reserved for a select few.

Highlighting the remarkable improvements in student performance, he pointed out that since the first cohort of Free SHS students sat for the WASSCE in 2020, Ghana has consistently recorded over 50% of candidates achieving A1–C6 in all four core subjects.

In English, pass rates rose from 51.6% in 2016 to 69.52% in 2024. Integrated Science improved from 48.35% in 2016 to 58.77% in 2024, while Mathematics experienced a significant leap from 33.12% in 2016 to 66.86% in 2024. Social Studies also showed steady progress, increasing from 54.5% in 2016 to 71.53% in 2024.

“These results mark a sharp improvement compared to the years prior, particularly when pass rates in core subjects were largely below 50%,” the president said.

President Akufo-Addo expressed pride in his administration’s bold decision to implement Free SHS fully, despite calls for a gradual rollout. He stated that the policy’s success had reaffirmed its value and cemented its place as a transformational milestone in Ghana’s education system.

As he prepares to leave office, the president expressed optimism that the reforms in secondary education, coupled with investments in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and STEM, would continue to improve the quality of education and equip Ghanaian youth with the skills needed for the future.