As the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) officially gets underway, the Ministry of Education has issued a stern warning that any teaching or non-teaching staff involved in examination malpractice will face "severe punishment", including dismissal and possible jail time.

The announcement comes as over 461,000 Ghanaian candidates begin their crucial exams, with the Ministry and its partners intensifying surveillance to ensure the integrity of the process.

In a press statement released today, August 5, Dr. Clement Apaak, Deputy Minister for Education, reminded all school authorities, teachers, invigilators, and supervisors that upholding the credibility of the examination is paramount.

"The Ministry of Education, working in close collaboration with the Ghana Education Service (GES), the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), and the security agencies, will not tolerate any form of cheating, leakage, or compromise in this year’s WASSCE," Dr. Apaak noted.

This year's WASSCE, which began with project work on August 4, involves a total of 461,640 final-year senior high school students, a slight increase of 1,029 candidates from the previous year.

The candidates, comprising 207,381 males and 254,259 females, are drawn from 701 senior high schools across the country.

The Ashanti Region, with 115,982 candidates, has the highest number of students sitting for the examination.

The Ministry's strong stance reflects a persistent struggle to combat exam irregularities.

In previous years, WAEC has often withheld the results of thousands of candidates due to reported cases of examination malpractice.

The Ministry's decision to now directly threaten severe, public, and swift consequences for staff members involved is a significant escalation aimed at tackling the problem at its source.

Dr. Apaak's statement further emphasised that "the integrity of our examinations is non-negotiable" and called on all personnel to "remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity before, during, or after examinations."

He stressed that "protecting the fairness of the examination process is a collective responsibility."

The Ministry's release serves as both a warning and a call to action, reminding all stakeholders of their role in creating a culture of integrity.

"Schools are places of learning, not breeding grounds for dishonesty," the statement cautioned.

"Those who participate in any acts that compromise the integrity of the examination will be dealt with severely. This year, we are watching closely. Surveillance and monitoring have been intensified. The consequences of misconduct will be swift, public, and unforgiving."

For the candidates themselves, the Ministry offered words of encouragement, urging them to stay "focused and confident" and to "believe in yourselves, and go into the examination room knowing that your best effort is enough."

This year's candidates are the fourth batch to take the "Ghana Only" version of the WASSCE, as other member countries of the West African Examinations Council have returned to the May/June calendar.

With the government having already disbursed GH₵15,849,920 to cover practical examination fees nationwide, the focus is now squarely on ensuring a fair and credible examination process.

The Ministry's unequivocal message signals a firm commitment to protecting the academic future of thousands of Ghanaian students from the damaging effects of examination malpractice.