Dr Clement Abas Apaak, the Deputy Minister of Education, has urged the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to be more intentional in integrating technology into the conduct of examinations.

He said exploring ways to leverage the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to curb examination malpractices is the most effective way to safeguard the integrity and credibility of examinations.

“It is our hope that WAEC will be more deliberate in integrating technology in the conduct of WASSCE and leverage AI to curb examination malpractices,” he said.

Dr Apaak made the call at the opening of WAEC’s 74th Annual Council Meeting in Accra on Wednesday.

The meeting, attended by member states including The Gambia, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, is expected to end on March 28, 2026.

He assured the Council of the Ministry’s commitment to collaborating closely with the stakeholders to safeguard the integrity of examination processes.

“The Ministry of Education is supporting the Ghana Education Service in its efforts to maintain the highest standards throughout the examination lifecycle,” he said.

Dr Apaak encouraged participants to rigorously deliberate on examination malpractices, describing them as a growing threat to the integrity of assessments in the sub-region.

He reiterated the Ministry’s readiness to support interventions by WAEC to protect the credibility of examinations.

“Ghana is honoured to host the meeting,” he said, noting that examinations played a critical role not only in selecting candidates for further education but also in developing the human capital needed for national growth.

Dr Apaak said the Ministry recognised the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) as a high-stakes assessment that must uphold fairness and merit.

He announced Ghana’s resumption of participation in the international version of WASSCE in 2026, to be conducted alongside other member states.

Alhaji Pateh Bah, Registrar to the Council, said three outstanding Ghanaian students would be awarded from a pool of 2,612,830 candidates.

He described examination malpractice as a persistent challenge that undermined the credibility of assessments and affected education systems across the sub-region.

WAEC remained committed to tackling the menace through the deployment of technology and strengthened monitoring and investigative systems, he noted.

“The council has continued to deploy more technology to sharpen existing monitoring mechanisms and strengthen its investigative systems across the sub-region,” he said.

The meeting also honoured three of the best Ghanaian female candidates for the WASSCE for School Candidates and conferred the 35th Distinguished Friends of Council Award on Professor Afiakwa Asomaning, a researcher and corporate leader best known for his contributions to science education and the energy sector.