At the 2025 WASSCE Distinction Awards in Accra, Dr. Mrs. Rosemond Wilson, Head of the West African Examinations Council National Office, urged students to pursue success through diligence and honesty rather than shortcuts.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Wilson emphasized that “the future you seek is built not through shortcuts, but through hard work, integrity, and determination,” highlighting the importance of ethical conduct in academic achievement.
The WAEC Distinction Awards, established in 1984 by the WAEC Endowment Fund, recognize exceptional performance in examinations. This year, the top awards were claimed by three female students: Huda Suglo Suleman of Legacy Girls’ College placed second; and Aba Matthea Andoh of Hope College respectively, while Eric Aduamoah Larbi of Presbyterian Boys’ Senior High School and Philip Dadzie Quaicoe of Mfantispim School were adjudged the best in Business and Technical programmes.
Dr. Wilson credited teachers for their dedication in nurturing confident, accomplished students, but also cautioned against enabling examination malpractice, describing it as a betrayal of the teaching profession. She highlighted the dangers of platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram being used to sell fake exam questions and extort candidates.
“Such conduct is unacceptable and must be firmly discouraged,” she said, commending security agencies for working with WAEC to apprehend offenders. She noted that WAEC has intensified stakeholder engagement to educate students on the long-term consequences of malpractice, including damage to the credibility of certificates and society at large.
Encouraging awardees to become ambassadors of integrity, Dr. Wilson urged them to promote honesty, fairness, and hard work in their academic pursuits. She also praised the Ghana Education Service, Ministry of Education, and teachers for fostering a culture of excellence and responsible citizenship among students.
The ceremony served as a reminder that sustained effort, ethical conduct, and teacher dedication remain the foundation for academic success and societal progress.
