The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced that all withheld results from the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) will be released by February 28th, 2025. This announcement follows weeks of controversy, legal action, and threatened protests, stemming from over 10,500 results being withheld due to alleged malpractice.
At a press conference on February 7th, WAEC's Head of Public Affairs, John Kapi, stated that investigations into suspected irregularities are nearing completion. He expressed confidence in meeting the February 28th deadline, assuring stakeholders that all cases of malpractice would be finalized and results released by that date. Mr. Kapi's statement comes in response to pressure from both affected candidates and the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), who threatened nationwide protests if the results were not released.
The decision to release the results follows a legal challenge brought by private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu. Mr. Kpebu filed a motion for Mandamus on behalf of the affected candidates, arguing that WAEC's withholding of results without clear and justifiable reasons was unlawful.
On January 30th, 2025, the High Court in Accra sided with the plaintiffs. Justice Ali Baba Abature ruled that WAEC's reasons for withholding the results – citing both "alleged examination malpractice" and "alleged irregularities" – were ambiguous and unjustified, particularly given that invigilators reported no such incidents during the examination. The court ordered the immediate release of the withheld results.
While acknowledging the legal battle and the significant number of malpractice cases – including photocopying answers, smuggling in unauthorized materials, and collusion – Mr. Kapi emphasized the alarming increase in such incidents. He urged all stakeholders to actively combat examination malpractice to uphold the integrity and credibility of the WASSCE. The council's commitment to releasing the results by February 28th, 2025, marks a significant step towards resolving the situation and alleviating the anxiety of students and parents.
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