WASSCE: Era of students feeling entitled to leaked answers must end – Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has called for an end to the culture of leaked examination answers and other forms of malpractice, saying students must earn academic success through genuine learning.

His comment follows the release of the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), which has sparked public discussion over student performance and examination integrity.

WAEC released the provisional 2026 WASSCE results on September 5 after 512,862 candidates from 1,022 schools registered for the examination.

The Council recorded several examination irregularities, including the cancellation of the entire results of 861 candidates for possessing mobile phones and the cancellation of subject results of 7,434 candidates for bringing foreign materials into examination halls.

WAEC also withheld the subject results of 957 candidates and the entire results of 270 candidates over suspected offences, while results involving candidates from 169 schools were withheld over alleged collusion pending investigations.

The Council has separately directed candidates whose results were withheld to use its irregularity and investigations portal to obtain information on the suspected malpractice cases.

Speaking during a Citizens’ Engagement in Wa as part of his Resetting Ghana Tour of the Upper West Region, President Mahama said the latest results reflected the genuine performance of students.

He said improved invigilation and a reduction in organised examination malpractice had contributed to the outcome.

“The era when students felt entitled to leaked answers and attacked teachers who enforced discipline must remain behind us,” President Mahama said.

The President stressed that students should succeed based on what they have learnt, while teachers must uphold professional standards.

“Our children must succeed because they have learned, and our teachers must teach with integrity,” he added.

President Mahama said the focus should now be on restoring a culture where students prepare adequately and rely on their own knowledge rather than leaked answers or other forms of examination assistance.