The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has intensified its fight against examination malpractice after seven teachers were arrested for various offences during the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
The arrests, carried out through a combination of WAEC monitoring systems and whistleblower reports, took place in the Central, Bono and Ashanti Regions.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency, WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, Mr John K. Kapi, confirmed that three teachers were arrested in the Central Region, two in Bono, and another two in Ashanti.
He explained that preliminary investigations showed a range of infractions, including the smuggling of mobile phones into examination halls and the use of digital platforms to compromise the integrity of the exam.
According to WAEC, some of the suspects allegedly accessed online solutions, while others reportedly used artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT to generate answers. In some cases, exam questions were also captured and shared unlawfully.
The arrested individuals have since been handed over to the police to assist with further investigations.
Mr Kapi praised individuals who provided information that led to the arrests, describing whistleblowing as crucial in safeguarding the credibility of the examination process.
He further noted that WAEC had strengthened logistics and security measures, including improved distribution systems for question papers and answer booklets to ensure timely delivery to all centres.
Despite the isolated incidents, he said the overall conduct of the examination had been largely smooth, adding that stakeholders must remain alert to prevent further malpractice.
“On the whole, today’s exercise has proceeded successfully,” he said.
