The Ghana Education Service (GES) has issued a stern warning to candidates preparing for the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) to steer clear of leaked exam materials, popularly known as apor.
Speaking at a press conference, the Acting Director-General of GES, Prof. Ernest Kofi Davies, urged students to rely on their hard work and integrity rather than shortcuts.
“God willing, tomorrow, August 5, we will begin with the WASSCE practicals. The theory papers will follow from August 20 to September 19. All measures to ensure a smooth process have been put in place. I want to caution candidates against any misconduct or reliance on foreign materials. Anybody caught will be dealt with,” Prof. Davies stated.
This year, a total of 461,640 candidates are expected to take the exams. The GES boss also warned invigilators and supervisors that any involvement in exam malpractice would lead to immediate dismissal.
In response to safety concerns in conflict-prone areas such as Nkwanta SHS, Bawku SHS, Nalerigu SHS, and Zuarungu SHS, Prof. Davies assured parents and students that adequate security has been arranged to ensure the exams proceed without disruption.
“We want to assure all candidates and parents that this year’s WASSCE will be free of malpractice, and security measures are in place to ensure fairness and safety,” he added.
The warning comes amid troubling statistics from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), which reported a sharp rise in exam malpractice over the last four years.
In 2021, 10,386 of the 441,751 candidates were caught cheating. The number increased to 29,291 out of 419,151 in 2022, then to 44,586 out of 445,160 in 2023. In 2024, a record 62,046 out of 457,554 candidates—13.6%—were implicated in malpractice.
