Adutwum’s Spokesman Slams GES Over WASSCE Failures

Former Ministry of Education spokesperson, Yaw Opoku Mensah, says statistics from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) reveal widespread examination malpractice, making the Ghana Education Service’s (GES) explanation false, unacceptable, and disconnected from the real situation in schools.

According to him, instead of addressing its own failures, the Ministry of Education and GES have resorted to propaganda, promoting a narrative that increased invigilation revealed the true performance of students.

He criticized GES over what he describes as a deliberately misleading narrative aimed at covering up the real causes behind the worst WASSCE performance in recent years.

GES Statement Contradicted by Evidence

Mr. Mensah specifically referenced Paragraph 7 of the GES press release, where the Service claimed:

“The 2025 WASSCE was conducted under heightened invigilation, strengthened supervision, and strict adherence to examination protocols across all centres. These measures significantly resulted in apprehension of some students and staff who would have engaged in examination malpractices.”

He argues that WAEC’s official malpractice data completely contradicts this justification.

8,199 Malpractice Incidents Recorded — A System Failure, Not Success

WAEC data from 2021 to 2025 show that 2025 recorded one of the highest levels of examination malpractice in five years, totaling 8,199 incidents. This includes cancelled subject results, cancelled entire results, withheld results, and cases of collusion.

“These numbers don’t reflect strict invigilation,” he argued. “They reflect a collapsing system, weak preparation, and the absence of interventions that once supported students and teachers.”

“Why Deceive the Public?” — A Call for Answers

He questioned why GES would mislead the public when the evidence clearly shows:

• 6,295 subject results cancelled

• 653 entire results cancelled

• 908 subject results withheld

• 158 entire results withheld

• 185 cases of school collusion

“How can GES claim strict supervision when malpractice numbers are this huge? What exactly are they trying to hide from the public?” he asked.

Effective Interventions Have Been Abandoned

Mr. Mensah criticized the current administration for dismantling systems that previously ensured better outcomes:

• Cancellation of academic intervention allowances

• Stopping WAEC subject-teacher training

• No structured support for final-year preparation

• Poor coordination between GES, WAEC, and schools

“These policies were deliberately created by the previous government to improve performance. Instead of improving them, the current leadership scrapped them, and this is the result,” he emphasized. “We cannot toy with the future of our children.”

He expressed concern over the type of leadership currently steering the Ministry and GES.

“We must be worried. The future of this country cannot be managed with propaganda. Parents deserve honesty, not excuses.”

Mr. Mensah concluded:

“The Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service must apologize for their ill preparation, for dismantling effective interventions, and for the poor performance recorded this year.”

Story By Michael Ofosu-Afriyie, Kumasi