President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has asked students at Cape Coast’s Wesley Girls school if they were actually participating in malpractices in collaboration with the government as was being alleged, in a sarcastic response to a recent remark made by former President John Mahama regarding examination malpractices.
In response to claims made by former president John Dramani Mahama that examination cheating was the reason behind Ghanaian students’ recent good WASSCE results, President Akufo-Addo has asked questions.
The former president, who is also the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s 2024 presidential candidate, claims that certain invigilators helped pupils cheat on the exam by working with teachers.
In his words, “You certify these children saying they are of this standard either the BECE or SSCE, and that child will use that certificate, go abroad to a school, and they will find out that your qualification is not up to the standard you say it is.” Exam malpractice, in his opinion, jeopardizes the quality and integrity of education.
According to the former president, encouraging pupils to cheat on exams will have a lasting impact on Ghana because “in many places, they let the children cheat.” You visit areas where the teachers are collaborating with the pupils to engage in cheating. The result will become apparent later.
Mr. Mahama’s remarks follow Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum’s declaration that the most recent WASSCE results are the best since 2015.
Speaking at the 187th address and prize-giving day of Wesley Girls High School in Cape Coast in response to Mr. Mahama’s accusations, President Akufo-Addo, however, rejected the claims, characterizing them as regrettable remarks meant to make a political point.
He found it unfortunate that a former Ghanaian president, of all people, would make such a remark.
He argued that there was no need for former President Mahama to doubt the validity of Ghanaian students’ remarkable WASSCE scores, noting that increased access to and higher caliber of education in the nation was the cause of their success.
President Akufo-Addo, therefore, asked the students of Wesley Girls’ High School if they cheat in WASSCE?
“Students of Wesley Girls High School; Wey Gey Hey girls, do you cheat in examinations?” President Akufo-Addo asked, receiving a thunderous no answer from the students.
