On Thursday, 8th May 2025, the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Conard Sackey, appeared before Parliament for questioning regarding the large number of students who were excluded from participating in the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
During the hearing, the Opposition Chief Whip, Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara, revealed that the Minister admitted that the Ministry had submitted verified candidate lists to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), but WAEC rejected both the lists and the candidates. WAEC requested that all information be compiled and submitted in a single consolidated document. The Opposition Chief Whip emphasized that this bureaucratic process caused delays, and due to a lack of timely alternatives, WAEC omitted the affected schools creating a significant gap in student participation.
He further stated that efforts were made to engage WAEC headquarters in Ghana to reopen the examination portal, but due to the tight examination schedule, those pleas were unsuccessful.
Opposition Chief Whip also challenged the Minister’s analysis comparing the number of WASSCE candidates in 2020 and 2023. He argued that prior to the Free Quality Education initiative, many students were unable to continue to senior secondary school due to financial constraints. The introduction of the program, he said, led to a significant increase in student enrollment and participation in the 2020 WASSCE. However, this surge revealed inconsistencies and disparities in student turnout by 2023.
Opposition Chief Whip referenced the 2023 Audit Report, noting that the government is currently funding examination fees for more students than are actually eligible resulting in wasteful spending of public funds.
According to Minister Sackey’s report, 248 schools were affected by this issue in the last academic year, and 83 schools have been disqualified this year due to what he described as negligence on the part of the Ministry.
In closing, Opposition Chief Whi expressed his long-standing concern over the issue, noting that for the past three years he has raised the alarm, but described the Minister’s leadership style as dictatorial, claiming it has hindered effective reform. He called on all affected students to remain calm as engagements with the government continue in pursuit of a resolution.
Media and Communications Unit
