An Accra High Court has rejected an application by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) seeking a stay of execution on an earlier ruling that mandated the release of withheld West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results.
WAEC had initially withheld the results of about 10,000 candidates, citing alleged examination malpractices in its December 30, 2024, announcement.
However, on January 30, 2025, the court ruled in favor of four students who petitioned on behalf of all affected candidates, ordering the immediate release of their results.
Presiding over the latest hearing on February 20, 2025, Justice Ali Baba Abature dismissed WAEC’s appeal, stating that the examination body had failed to provide sufficient justification for its decision to withhold the results.
The court also emphasized that keeping the results indefinitely could hinder the academic and professional progress of the students. Additionally, the judge imposed a GHS 5,000 fine on WAEC for its actions.
The ruling is seen as a major victory for students, parents, and education advocates who have been demanding fairness and transparency in WAEC’s examination processes.
Many stakeholders have called on the council to implement clearer and more accountable procedures for handling cases of alleged malpractice, ensuring that innocent students are not unfairly penalized in the future.
