WAEC Monopoly Under Fire: Freelance Journalists Call for Efficiency and Competition
The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has come under scrutiny for its perceived inefficiencies, prompting freelance journalists, led by Owusu Obimpeh, to call on the government to break WAEC’s monopoly on external exams in Ghana.
According to the editor of the Freelance Journalist Network (FGN), “The challenge we have with WAEC is that it has a monopoly, and because it is a monopoly, it is not under any pressure to deliver.” This lack of competition has led to recurring issues, such as the leakage of question papers ahead of examinations.
The journalists argue that introducing competition would improve WAEC’s efficiency and maintain the integrity of exams like the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and the West Africa Senior School Certification (WASSCE).
Nigeria’s example is cited as a success story, where the introduction of the National Examinations Council (NECO) has promoted competition and improved educational efficiency.
The call for reform comes amid controversy surrounding the 2024 WASSCE examination, where WAEC withheld over 10,500 results due to suspected malpractice. The High Court in Accra has since ordered WAEC to release the withheld results by February 28, 2025.
The development has reignited discussions about student expectations and conduct during exit exams. With WAEC’s monopoly under fire, it remains to be seen whether the government will heed the call for competition and reform.
By: Frank Owusu Obimpeh
