Twenty-Four Arrested for Infractions in 2025 BECE

Accra: Twenty-four individuals have been apprehended for various infractions in the ongoing 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). Mr. John K. Kapi, the Head of Public Affairs at the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), made this announcement during an interview on an Accra-based television station, as monitored by the Ghana News Agency, highlighting the arrests made within the first three days of the examination.According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Kapi detailed the incidents leading to the arrests, mentioning that a supervisor and two head teachers were caught distributing photocopied materials to candidates. Additionally, several teachers were discovered with mobile phones, taking snapshots of exam materials and sharing them on various platforms. Furthermore, unauthorized individuals managed to enter examination halls, distributing photocopied answers or attempting to solve questions outside the halls to send the responses back in.Mr. Kapi emphasized that WAEC's examination laws would be enforced against those found guilty, with penalties ranging from fines to various periods of incarceration depending on the presiding judge's decision. He further stated that WAEC would compile a list of offenders to submit to the Director General of the Ghana Education Service for disciplinary action, ensuring that those involved would no longer be associated with WAEC.Regarding pregnant candidates, Mr. Kapi explained that WAEC did not track such information during registration. The council focuses on candidates with visual and hearing impairments and those with cerebral palsy. Pregnancies are typically noted upon arrival at examination centers, where a make-shift infirmary provides first aid. Future policies on this matter are expected from the Ghana Education Service.This year, a total of 603,328 candidates are sitting for the BECE across over 2,000 examination centers. WAEC has issued a statement urging candidates to adhere strictly to examination rules to avoid consequences. The 2025 BECE, having commenced on June 11, is scheduled to conclude on June 18.