Akufo-Addo to Wesley Girls: Do you also engage in exam malpractices?

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in a sarcastic reaction to a recent comment by the former president John Dramani Mahama about alleged examination malpractices, has asked students of the Cape Coast-based Wesley Girls’ High School if they really are cheating in their examinations in collaboration with the government, as Mahama alleged.

President Akufo-Addo’s direct question followed the claim by the former president that the impressive 2023 WASSCE results by Ghanaian students did not truly reflect the students’ ability but were obtained through examination malpractices.

According to the former president, who is also the 2024 flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress, some invigilators, in collaboration with teachers, assisted the students to cheat during last year’s examination.

Examination malpractices compromise the quality and integrity of education, Mahama said, explaining: “You certify these children, saying they are of this standard, either the BECE or SSCE, and that child will use that certificate, go abroad to a school, and they will find out that your qualification is not up to the standard you say it is.”

The former president said assisting students to cheat in examinations will affect Ghana in the long term in many ways. “In many places, they let the children cheat,” he claimed. “You go to places and the teachers are conniving with the students to cheat. The effect will be seen later.”

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Mahama’s comments came after the Minister of Education, Yaw Osei Adutwum, announced that the recent WASSCE results are the best since 2015.

Reacting to Mahama’s allegations, President Akufo-Addo, who was speaking at the 187th speech and prize-giving day of Wesley Girls’ High School in Cape Coast, dismissed the claims, describing them as unfortunate and intended to score political points.

It was sad that such a comment was coming from not just any person but a former president of Ghana, Akufo-Addo said.

He said the former president had no basis to question the integrity of Ghana’s WASSCE results, pointing out that the impressive performance by Ghanaian students was the product of improved quality and enhanced access to education in Ghana.

“Students of Wesley Girls’ High School – Wey Gey Hey girls – do you cheat in examinations?” President Akufo-Addo asked, and received a thunderous “No” in response from the students.