The Ghana Education Service (GES) has taken decisive action against examination malpractice by banning more than 40 invigilators from supervising the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). The move signals a renewed commitment to restoring integrity and credibility within Ghana’s education system.
According to GES authorities, the sanctioned invigilators were implicated in various unethical practices during last year’s examinations, actions that undermined fairness and public trust in the system. The violations ranged from aiding candidates directly to facilitating organized cheating schemes.
Breaking down the offenses, 17 invigilators were caught engaging in mobile phone-related malpractice, while 13 were found distributing prepared answers to candidates. Another six were actively solving examination questions on behalf of students during the exams. Additional cases involved the use of unauthorized materials, coordinated cheating efforts, and even an attempted bribery incident involving a parent.
At a press briefing in Accra on Thursday, April 30, 2026, the Director-General of GES, Professor Ernest Davies, confirmed that all offenders have been permanently banned from participating in future invigilation exercises. He added that further legal action is being pursued against those involved, emphasizing that such misconduct will not be tolerated.
“This is part of our broader effort to uphold the sanctity of our examination processes. We are determined to ensure that every candidate is assessed fairly and that the value of our certificates remains unquestionable,” Prof. Davies stated.
The crackdown comes as the nation prepares for the 2026 BECE scheduled to start from Monday, May 4 to Monday, May 11, 2026 which is expected to see a significant rise in participation. A total of 620,141 candidates will sit for the exams, comprising 304,349 boys and 315,792 girls from 20,395 schools nationwide. This marks a 2.7% increase from last year’s figure of 603,328 candidates.
In addition, GES has announced adjustments to the school selection process. Candidates will now choose their preferred senior high schools only after the release of their results, with each student permitted to select up to two Category A schools.
With increased vigilance and stricter enforcement measures in place, GES hopes this year’s BECE will set a new benchmark for fairness and accountability in Ghana’s education system.
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Story by Albert Otokunor Sampah | univers.ug.edu.gh
Edited by Erica Odeenyin Odoom
