Personnel from National Security have arrested three suspected kingpins of rogue websites which solve examination questions and post the answers online while the exams are still ongoing.
The suspects were reportedly picked up at separate locations in the Greater Accra, Eastern and Central Regions.
The names of the suspects have been withheld, as investigations are still taking place.
National Security operatives swooped on the first suspect at Akim Akoroso in the Eastern Region. The second suspect was arrested at Kasoa in the Central Region. The third was apprehended at the Palace Mall in the Spintex area of Accra.
A court warrant has since been secured to keep them in custody as investigations continue.
WASSCE leak
Before and during the 2020 WASSCE, there were reported cases of examination papers allegedly circulating on social media.
Some of them were shown to be fake but in other cases the paper was snapped at the commencement of the examination and uploaded to such websites and other media.
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) went ahead to submit details of more than 21 websites and asked the security agencies to track them and bring the originators to book. The three individuals arrested by National Security on 8 and 9 September are believed to be among the people behind such rogue websites.
No room for malpractice
Meanwhile, Reverend Victor Brew, the head of legal affairs at WAEC, has warned that members of the public who use WhatsApp platforms to share examination questions in exchange for money will not be spared when arrested.
He also advised junior high school students writing the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) to desist from examination malpractices.
Section 6(b) of the WAEC Act 2006 (Act 719) clearly states: “A candidate who, during an examination, is in possession of a textbook, an electronic device or material in the examination room without lawful authority, proof of which shall be on the candidate, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than 50 penalty units and not more than 100 penalty units, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both, and the person shall, in addition, be disqualified from taking the examination and if the person has already taken a paper at the examination, the paper shall be cancelled by the council.”
Reverend Brew said WAEC will not hesitate to cancel the papers of any candidate caught in any cheating scheme.
E A Alanore
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