The Head of Public Affairs, John Kapi, disclosed this in an interview with Accra-based Citi News.

According to him, there are currently no outstanding results.

“As we promised, we kept to our promises. So by the close of February 28, we had uploaded all the results of the candidates whose results had been withheld.

“The court had ordered that we should release the results of those candidates. And so we’ve gone ahead with all the results. So we don’t have any outstanding results as far as those exams are concerned,” he stated.

Mr. Kapi noted that although the Council anticipates complaints in the coming days, the released results reflect the actual performance of the candidates.

“Well, the 28th was a Friday, and so we assume that people are still waiting until the beginning of the week to begin calling the office and registering complaints. But, again, I think that whatever we have put out there is a true reflection of the performance of the candidates in the examination,” he added.

The exam body had withheld over 10,000 results following the provisional release in December 2024.

The results were withheld over suspected malpractices, which were investigated amidst a legal action against WAEC.

The Accra High Court on February 1, 2025, ordered WAEC to release the results, following which there were threats of protests.

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Despite the overall success of the exams, WAEC flagged several cases of malpractice, including photocopying answers, smuggling mobile phones, and collusion in exam halls. Investigations are ongoing.

However, NUGS has criticised WAEC’s handling of the matter, arguing that thousands of students have been unfairly affected by the cancellations and delays.

The protest is scheduled for Tuesday, February 25, starting at 9:00 am, with participants expected to gather at the Obra Spot at Kwame Nkrumah Circle, Accra.

In a statement, NUGS President Daniel Korley Botchway confirmed that the Greater Accra Regional Police Command had been notified.

“This demonstration is a protest against what we see as an injustice and an abuse of discretionary power by WAEC,” portions of the statement read.

NUGS has called on all affected students and stakeholders to join the protest in a united stand for justice.

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Below is the full statement:

At a press conference on Friday, February 7, WAEC revealed that investigations into alleged malpractice and irregularities are nearing completion.

John Kapi, the Head of Public Affairs at WAEC, expressed confidence that the council would conclude its probe and release the withheld results by the set date.

“The Council has continued its hearing for the affected candidates and has been releasing results as appropriate. The Council wishes to assure all stakeholders that all cases of malpractice will be finalized, and results released by February 28,” Mr. Kapi stated.

The assurance follows a legal battle and threats from the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) to stage nationwide protests over the withheld results.

Despite the overall success of the exams, WAEC reported several instances of malpractice, including photocopying answers, hiding foreign materials, smuggling mobile phones, and collusion in exam halls.

Acknowledging the legal battle, Mr. Kapi noted that the increase in malpractice cases was alarming and urged all stakeholders to speak out against the issue to maintain the credibility of the examination.

WAEC has withheld over 10,500 results due to suspected malpractice.

In response to widespread controversy and anxiety among parents and candidates, private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu filed a motion for Mandamus on behalf of the affected candidates.

On Friday, January 30, 2025, the High Court in Accra ordered WAEC to immediately release the withheld results. The court ruled that WAEC’s decision to withhold the results without clear reasons was unjustified, as the reasons given were ambiguous, citing both “alleged examination malpractice” and “alleged irregularities.”

Justice Ali Baba Abature, who presided over the case, emphasized that invigilators reported no malpractices or irregularities during the examination.

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In a statement, the exam body noted that, with the approval of the Ghana Examinations Committee during its 37th meeting, the results were withheld. However, investigations have since commenced and are now in their final phase.

The statement, signed by Head of Public Affairs John Kapi, noted that the scrutiny of the affected scripts has been completed. The concerned candidates have been invited to engage with selected WAEC officials.

“These meetings, which require candidates to be accompanied by their parents or guardians, are aimed at affording them a fair hearing before final decisions are made on their cases,” the statement read.

“During the meetings, candidates will be given an opportunity to respond to the allegations against them and provide written statements in the presence of their guardians.”

WAEC has assured that these interactions are being conducted transparently and fairly, dismissing claims by some parents that candidates are being coerced or intimidated into writing statements.

All affected candidates and their guardians have therefore been asked to cooperate with the ongoing process to ensure a swift resolution of the matter.

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Read the full statement below:

The move according to WAEC forms part of the investigation process to quickly ensure the withheld results are released.

The Head of Public Affairs at WAEC, John Kapi disclosed this on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem following the release of the results on Monday, December 30, 2024.

In a statement, WAEC revealed that the entire results of 483 candidates have been cancelled for possession of mobile phones in the examination halls.

Also, the subject results of 781 and the entire Results of 209 candidates have been withheld for various suspected offences.

The candidates have been invited to WAEC’s offices to answer questions about alleged irregularities detected during the exams while some subject results of candidates from 319 schools have been withheld for alleged collusion.

Mr Kapi explained the Council is withholding the results of some subjects for these candidates until the investigations are complete.

“For the withheld results, our examiners identified instances of collusion and sharing of information during the marking process.

“These cases require further investigation and hearings with the affected candidates before any decisions are made,” Mr Kapi stated.

To expediate the process, he said there are plans to recall WAEC staff by January 3, 2025.

“The next line of action will depend on the merit of the case. If the evidence is not conclusive, we will release the results for the candidates,” he noted.

He further added that in the case of cancellation of results, the approval would have to come from relevant committees at WAEC after thorough investigations establish the evidence of malpractice.

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In an interview with JoyNews, Dr Nkansah confirmed that the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) had already been in contact with the Ministry of Education regarding the results.

However, he noted that while WAEC often sets targets for itself, unforeseen circumstances sometimes prevent them from meeting those deadlines.

“We are sure the results will be released possibly before the year ends,” he stated.

On the same issue, the Director of Public Affairs at WAEC, John Kapi, explained that a significant debt of GH₵118 million is still owed by the government, and no payments have been made to date.

He added that, this outstanding debt is largely to blame for the delay in the release of the results.

Mr Kapi said, “We intended by now to be processing the results, because, as we mentioned earlier, the marking of the scripts for both the theory and practical aspects is complete.”

He further clarified that the only remaining component is the objective section, which requires the use of specialized machines.

“We thought that by the 19th of this month, all things being equal, we could release the results before the office closes for the Christmas break,” he explained.

WAEC faced similar challenges before the organization of the exams until the government paid a part of its debt.

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The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has disclosed that financial constraints are delaying the process.

In an interview with Adom News, the Head of Public Relations at WAEC, John Kapi, exclusively revealed that the examination body has not yet received the arrears owed by the government for conducting the exams.

Mr Kapi explained that the government owes WAEC approximately GH₵118 million and the situation is further complicated by the need for GH₵25 million to repair malfunctioning scanners essential for processing objective test results.

With less than two weeks left in 2024, Mr. Kapi stated that, due to these financial challenges, there is no specific date for the release of the results.

According to him, the office is breaking for Christmas on December 20, 2024 when the funds are released, they will have to call the staff for them to come back to the office.

He emphasized that without the necessary funds, the exams body is unable to complete the processes required to release the WASSCE results.

He noted that the current situation is concerning, as the office has never faced such frustration, leading to a delay in the release of results.

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Their futures hang in the balance as they wait for the release of their West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results—results that remain delayed due to a massive debt owed by the Ministry of Education to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

For many students, the question is simple: Who cares about their future?

The cause of the delay is a GH₵118 million debt owed by the Ministry of Education to WAEC, which has severely impacted the exam body’s ability to complete critical post-examination processes.

Despite the marking of essays and practical components being completed in late November 2024, the process of scanning objective test cards has come to a standstill.

The scanners, crucial to completing the process, are broken, and WAEC has no funds to repair or replace them.

As a result, the release of the 2024 WASSCE results has been held up, leaving students, parents, and educational institutions in a state of limbo.

In a statement, WAEC clarified that results will only be released once all post-examination challenges, including the scanning of test papers, are resolved.

The Council is still awaiting the release of additional funds from the Ministry of Education to proceed with scanning and other necessary processes. But for many, the question is: Why has it taken so long to resolve this issue?

A Dire Situation for Students and Families
For students, the delay in receiving their WASSCE results means that they cannot proceed with their university admissions. With tertiary institutions set to reopen in a few weeks, many students are at risk of missing out on opportunities to further their education.

They cannot apply for scholarships, attend orientation sessions, or secure accommodation in university hostels—critical steps for those preparing to begin their academic journey.

Parents are equally distressed. Many invested time, effort, and resources into ensuring their children passed the WASSCE exams, only to find that their children’s future hangs in the balance due to a financial impasse between WAEC and the Ministry of Education.

For parents hoping to see their children enrolled in university programmes, this delay adds to the already overwhelming stress of preparing for the next stage of their children’s education.

“My daughter has been waiting for her results for weeks, and now I’m not sure what to tell her.

How do I explain to her that her future is in limbo because of a debt that hasn’t been paid?” says one frustrated parent. “It’s not just about her results—it’s about the opportunities she’s worked so hard for.”

Tertiary Institutions Face Uncertainty
The delay is not just affecting students and parents; tertiary institutions are also feeling the pressure.

Universities are poised to begin the new academic year, but they cannot move forward with student admissions without the WASSCE results.

The uncertainty surrounding the availability of these results complicates the admissions process, potentially leaving universities with empty seats and lost revenue.

The delay in WASSCE results due to unpaid debts raises larger questions about the state of funding and management within Ghana’s education system.

The GH₵118 million debt owed by the Ministry of Education is a staggering amount, and the fact that it has yet to be resolved highlights systemic issues within the sector.

At its core, this delay underscores how education—arguably the most important investment in a nation’s future—is being neglected.

As the government scrambles to find a solution, the human cost of these delays is far too real.

The hopes and dreams of countless students are being jeopardized due to a failure to prioritize the timely release of examination results.

Meanwhile, students’ futures are increasingly dependent on decisions that are entirely out of their control.

As the new academic year looms, the urgency of resolving the debt owed to WAEC could not be more critical.

Students, parents, and tertiary institutions are all calling for swift action from the Ministry of Education.

The time for excuses and delays is long past. The Ministry must settle the outstanding debt and allow the scanning process to resume, ensuring that the WASSCE results are released without further hindrances.

As the situation stands, the education system’s dysfunction is robbing students of opportunities. It’s no longer just an issue of delayed results—it’s an issue of lost futures, missed opportunities, and broken trust in an education system that is supposed to support, not undermine, its students.

Students, parents, and tertiary institutions are all left asking: Who cares? Because, for many, this isn’t just an issue of waiting for results—it’s an issue of waiting for a future.

About the author:
Kodwo Mensah Aboroampa (Amos Kwofie) is a journalist with Multimedia Group Limited, an education enthusiast, and a development communication advocate.

The fate of over 460,611 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) School Candidates (SC) hangs in the balance as the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) struggles to complete the process to release their results.

For instance, the examination body has not been able to complete the marking of scripts because it requires enormous funding to procure a new scanner or repair the old ones to scan the objective cards for this year’s WASSCE.

“WAEC is awaiting the release of additional funds out of an outstanding balance of GH¢118 million from the Ministry of Education for the repair of the scanners to carry out the scanning process of the objective cards for this year’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates (SC),” the Head of Public Affairs of WAEC, John Kapi, told the  Daily Graphic.

“Currently, we actually have a number of scanners but due to lack of funds, we have not been able to service them as they break down.  That’s what has led to the current situation,” he explained.

In an Update on Post Examination Activities, WAEC urged members of the public to ignore information circulating on social media purporting to be dates for the release of results.

“The results will be released as soon as the challenges being experienced with the post-examination activities are resolved,” the update signed by him said.

WAEC, on August 5, 2024, commenced the administration of the 2024 WASSCE-SC and successfully ended on Friday, September 20, 2024.

The marking of the essays and other practical components of the papers which commenced on Friday, November 7 ended on Friday, November 29, 2024.

“Scanning of the objective cards which was scheduled for November 1 to November 30, 2024 is yet to be completed due to the breakdown of scanners used for the process,” the update said.

A total of 460,611 candidates participated in the 2024 WASSCE-SC.

Ghanaian candidates sat the Ghana Only WASSCE-SC for the third successive time because the other four-member countries of WAEC — Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone and The Gambia — have returned to the May/June calendar for WASSCE school candidates.

The ‘new normal’ calendar for Ghana was occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

This year’s cohort of candidates comprised 247,657 female candidates and 212,954 male candidates from 1,003 schools that registered candidates for the examination.

The examination started on Monday, August 5, this year with the administration of Visual Arts Project Work which ended on Friday, September 20, 2024.

Infractions

In an earlier statement, WAEC said it had identified several infractions in the 2024 examination.

It involved supervisors, invigilators and candidates.

The infractions included the photocopying and distribution of answers to candidates, the smuggling of mobile phones into the examination halls by both candidates and teachers and the concealment of foreign materials by candidates during the exam.

“The council will take appropriate action to ensure that all examination officials and stakeholders who were found culpable are sanctioned in accordance with the appropriate provisions of the rules and regulations governing the conduct of the examination,” a statement from the council said.

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With the much-anticipated release of the 2024 WASSCE results scheduled for December 9, 2024, WAEC is now facing a serious crisis that could delay or disrupt the release of these critical results.

According to the Head of Public Relations at WAEC, John Kapi, the situation has become dire, with the examination body struggling to maintain the necessary resources to carry out its duties.

“We are in a very difficult position right now,” Mr. Kapi said, citing the outstanding arrears owed by the government for previous years’ exams. “Not only are we dealing with significant financial constraints, but there are also operational challenges, particularly with our scanning machines for objective tests and other machines, which are malfunctioning due to lack of proper maintenance.”

The debt owed by the government is substantial. WAEC has confirmed that, as of 2024, the total arrears for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), WASSCE, and other exams stand at an alarming GH₵155.86 million.

In the case of BECE, the government owes GH₵4.94 million for the 2024 session, while the WASSCE arrears are far more significant.

Of this amount, GH₵30.49 million is owed for 2023, and an additional GH₵9.97 million for 2022.

Despite the large amounts owed, WAEC has managed to receive some payments.

For BECE 2024, the government has already paid GH₵90.90 million, but the balance remains GH₵4.94 million.

For WASSCE, a partial payment of GH₵75.98 million has been made, but a staggering GH₵155.86 million remains unpaid.

The financial crisis facing WAEC is having far-reaching implications. The exam body’s ability to ensure the smooth processing of the WASSCE results is being severely compromised.

The malfunctioning scanning machines, essential for grading objective tests, are a key point of concern.

“If we are unable to fix or replace the machines, it could delay the processing of results,” Mr. Kapi warned.

He added that this could affect the timely release of the 2024 WASSCE results, which are eagerly awaited by thousands of students, parents, and schools across the country.

The outstanding debt, coupled with the operational challenges, paints a grim picture for the efficiency of WAEC’s operations in Ghana.

As the December 9 deadline for the WASSCE results approaches, students and educational stakeholders are anxiously awaiting updates, unsure of whether the government’s debt will be settled in time to ensure a smooth and timely release of the results.

The exam body is therefore expecting that some payment will be made by the government to salvage the situation and keep the timetable and schedules of WAEC intact.

To the body, the further the delay, the more consequences it will have on exam organization and its activities.

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In a statement, the exam body said it detected cases of malpractice on the part of candidates, supervisors and invigilators in the just-ended exams.

These according to WAEC included writing on boards for the candidates to copy, smuggling of mobile phones into the examination halls by candidates and teachers, photocopying of answers, and distribution of same to candidates.

In this regard, WAEC said the necessary action will be taken against all examination officials and stakeholders found culpable.

A total of 460,611 candidates made up of 212,954 males and 247, 657 females participated the exam.

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Read the full statement below:

This was after they arrived late for the exams on Monday morning.

Per the rules of the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC), the candidates are supposed to be seated 30 minutes before the start of the exams.

However, the students according to reports by Adom News’ Kodwo Mensah Aboroampa who was on routine monitoring with officials of the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) arrived after an hour into the exams.

Some of the students attributed their lateness to vehicular traffic while commuting from their homes to the school.

The headmistress, Mrs Rejoice Akua Acorlor, who expressed worry over the situation however, emphasised the need for the rules of the examination to be adhered to.

“When the paper starts, we shouldn’t let the students in. These students this is not the first time, and they have come a whole one hour after the start of the paper so I cannot in any way allow them. I am not happy about it, but this is the situation I find myself in,” she told the media.

This was on the back of a similar situation that occurred at the Osu Presbyterian Senior High School(SHS) where over 15 students were nearly barred for being late.

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This was after the students arrived late for the first core subject paper, Social Studies.

Per the rules of the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC), the candidates are supposed to be seated 30 minutes before the start of the exams.

However, these students flouted the rule and came at their own time.

The exam Supervisor for the Centre and headmaster, Vincent Esuah speaking to the media said the candidates are habitual late comers.

Mr Esuah stated that he is not going to lax any of the rules governing the conduct of the examination for anyone or any group of students.

“WAEC works with rules and regulations and the rules are that students are to be seated 30 minutes before a paper we already had a delay and we started the paper they [the students] are now coming.

“They have no reason for coming late, they are simply perpetual latecomers, and if you ask them, you will know why they are late and I will not allow anyone to breach the rules especially if you don’t have a special reason.”

Meanwhile, the Head of the WAEC National Office, Dr. Rosemond Wilson, has asked all supervisors nationwide to adhere to the 30 minutes before the start of the paper rule to prevent possible cheating.

“In our rules and regulations, students are supposed to be seated 30 minutes before the start of a paper and they are not supposed to go out 30 minutes to the end of a paper, the supervisors are to adhere to this rule for a smooth conduct of the exam and candidates are to give a reason for their lateness,” she stated.

Source: Kodwo Mensah Aboroampa

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In a message of encouragement, she acknowledged the hard work and dedication that has brought the students to this critical juncture.

She urged them to remain calm, focused, and confident in their abilities, as they showcase their knowledge and skills.

“May your efforts be rewarded with success, and may this be the start of many great achievements in your future,” she said.

Madam Nana Mensah’s inspiring words are sure to boost the morale of the students as they embark on this significant milestone in their academic journey.

The Free SHS programme, which has enabled thousands of students to access quality education, continues to empower young minds to reach their full potential.

Source: Kodwo Mensah Aboroampa.

According to WAEC, some candidates in various regions are being asked to pay between GHC200.00 and GHC500.00 in exchange for assistance from compromised invigilators.

A statement sighted by JoyNews also disclosed that some supervisors at specific examination centres have schemed to assign teachers to invigilate subjects they teach, raising concerns about fairness.

Additionally, WAEC discovered that some schools have registered individuals who are not genuine students of the institutions, further undermining the integrity of the examination process.

Speaking to JoyNews, the Head of Public Affairs, John Kapi, cautioned school heads and their collaborators to desist from the practice or they will be sanctioned accordingly.

“We have picked up intelligence from a number of places across the country but for very obvious reasons I wouldn’t want to put the names out there because we wouldn’t want them to cover their tracks. However, we are very much aware that they are charging candidates between GHC200 and GHC500 in some areas, then also there are plans for the supervisors to use handpicked teachers to invigilate the subjects that they teach which is against our rules.

“We don’t allow subject teachers to invigilate subjects they teach. There are also other areas where people have constituted groups stationed at vantage points to receive question papers, solve and send the responses by electronic means to the invigilators to pass it on to the candidates.

“These are things that we have picked up and we are sending out our agents to follow up on these things to ascertain the veracity and if possible bring to book all those who are breaching the rules of the examination.”

The WAEC commenced the administration of practical and theory papers for WASSCE for School candidates on Monday (19 August 2024).

This follows the administration of the Visual Art Project work from 5 to 16 August 2024.

The examination is expected to end on Friday (20 September 2024).

A total of 460,611 candidates made up of 212,954 males and 247,657 females drawn from 1,003 schools have been registered for the examination.

Source: Myjoyonline

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