Ghana not out of West African Examinations Council – MoE official

The Ministry of Education (MoE) following claims that Ghana has withdrawn from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) says the country is still among member countries of the not-for-profit-making organization.

In a statement sighted by Thisterm.com, the Education Ministry said the Headquarters of WAEC is and has always been in Accra, and the current country rotational chair of the Council is Ghana, with Professor Ato Essuman as Chairman.

“Our students sit for the same WASSCE as the other four member countries (Nigeria, The Gambia, Sierra Leone and Liberia) and have done so during the same period until 2022,” a statement issued by the spokesman for the MoE said.

The Ministry’s comment comes after former President John Mahama after Ghana version of WASSCE was conducted in 2022 and 2023 said Ghana had pulled out of the WASSCE and currently writes the Ghana School Leaving Examination

Commenting on the administration of the Ghana version, the Education Ministry indicated that in 2022 and 2023, the exams the students took were set by WAEC with the same international standardisation as the other member countries.

“For the avoidance of doubt, all the papers are compiled by subject officers across the five member countries where the subject officers are found.

This means that the papers our students wrote are not necessarily set by Ghanaian subject officers unless that particular subject officer is located in Ghana,” the press release signed by spokesperson for MoE, Kwasi Kwarteng said.

It explained that additionally, after the exams, WAEC conducts the International Preliminary Coordination Meeting with participants from member countries (Chief Examiners and team leaders) to finalise the Marking Schemes for marking.

“Meaning that the standards and marking schemes are done with the member countries. Standard Fixing and Grade Award Meetings to set the Grade Boundaries are conducted by WAEC, with participants from member countries for the various subjects

The Ministry wishes to assure our students, parents, guardians and the general public that the quality of education and examinations at all levels, including the West African Senior School Certificate Examination, will not be compromised,” it added.