The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has dismissed calls by the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) for student representation on its key decision-making committees.

NUGS had argued that excluding students from bodies such as the Ghana Examinations Committee—which decides on the cancellation or withholding of results—and the WAEC Investigative Committee, which handles malpractice cases, was unfair.

In a statement signed by President Daniel Korley Botchway and General Secretary Bismark Yaw Ofori, the Union criticised the current arrangement, insisting that students, as the most affected stakeholders, deserve a seat at the table.

“It is worrying that the Ghana Examination Committee of WAEC, which takes critical decisions such as the cancellation and withholding of results, does not have a single student representative. Even more troubling is the fact that the WAEC Investigative Committee — which probes allegations of malpractice — equally excludes the very constituency most affected by its findings: the students,” the statement read.

However, WAEC says including NUGS is neither necessary nor feasible.

Dr Rosemond Wilson, Head of WAEC’s National Office, explained that the existing system already involves all relevant parties.

“NUGS are students, and with our exams, invigilators and supervisors are supposed to be workers of the GES. NUGS are not staff of the GES, so they cannot invigilate or supervise our exams,” she said.

She further noted that WAEC’s investigative processes involve candidates directly, along with their parents and teachers where applicable.

“When it comes to investigations, we deal directly with the candidate, and the minor candidates come along with their parents and teachers. So, we do not actually need NUGS. We don’t know the role they want to play concerning the investigations,” Dr Wilson stated.