The 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) has officially commenced across Ghana today, Monday, May 4, with a total of 620,141 candidates sitting for the nationwide assessment under heightened supervision aimed at eliminating examination malpractice.
The examination, organised by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), will run from May 4 to May 11 and involves candidates drawn from 20,395 schools across the country.
Authorities say enhanced monitoring measures have been put in place this year to curb examination malpractice and ensure the integrity of the process.
WAEC has reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on cheating, warning that any candidate found flouting the rules will face severe sanctions. It stressed that banned items, especially mobile phones, are strictly prohibited at all examination centres.
The Council also urged candidates to conduct themselves responsibly throughout the examination period, cautioning that any form of aggression or interference with invigilators and supervisors will not be tolerated.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Education Service (GES) has taken additional steps to strengthen the credibility of the exercise. Director-General Professor Ernest Kofi Davis disclosed that individuals previously associated with examination malpractice have been excluded from this year’s process.
According to him, all supervisors and invigilators under investigation for their alleged involvement in last year’s BECE have been disqualified from participating.
The measures, education authorities believe, will help ensure a smooth and credible examination process for candidates across the country.
