As 461,640 candidates begin the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), the Ghana Education Service (GES) is sounding a strong warning against the use of leaked questions, commonly known as apor.
With practicals kicking off on August 5 ahead of theory papers scheduled from August 20 to September 19, GES Acting Director-General Prof. Ernest Kofi Davies has called for integrity and diligence. “I want to caution candidates against any misconduct or reliance on foreign materials. Anybody caught will be dealt with,” he said during a press briefing.
Prof. Davies assured the public that security arrangements are in place for schools in conflict-prone areas such as Bawku SHS, Nkwanta SHS, Nalerigu SHS, and Zuarungu SHS, insisting the exams will be conducted fairly and without incident.
Supervisors and invigilators were not left out of his caution. He warned that any staff found aiding exam malpractices would face immediate dismissal.
His statement comes on the heels of troubling data from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), revealing that over 146,000 students were caught cheating over the last four years. In 2024 alone, 62,046 candidates—13.6% of the total—were implicated in malpractice.
“We want to assure all candidates and parents that this year’s WASSCE will be free of malpractice,” Prof. Davies said, urging candidates to rely on preparation rather than shortcuts.
