In a recent collaborative effort, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the Intelligence Unit of National Security have successfully thwarted illegal registrations for the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), leading to the apprehension of two individuals. The individuals in question, Robert Hackman, a private teacher from Agona Swedru, and Kwabena Baah Achemfour, a part-time teacher at Kenyasi SDA Senior High School, were caught in the act of attempting to register ineligible candidates.
The clandestine operation, orchestrated by Hackman and Achemfour, had a wide reach, spanning across various regions such as Accra, Takoradi, Agona Swedru, Cape Coast, and Dunkwa-On-Offin, with plans to expand their illicit activities to Tapa Abotoase in the Oti Region. Through the utilization of social media platforms, the duo recruited individuals who were no longer in school but had previously taken the WASSCE and either failed to meet the requirements or had their examination papers invalidated.
Their illicit activities came to an abrupt halt when a joint security team intervened during the registration process at Adishie Mma Preparatory School in Swedru. Subsequent investigations uncovered that Achemfour, posing as a registrar for Divine College, unlawfully levied a fee of GH¢6,000 on each candidate and registered a total of 172 individuals, some of whom were falsely assigned to non-existent schools. As a result of these findings, the security team has recommended the derecognition of SDA Senior High School, Kenyasi, as an examination center in order to curb illegal registrations and preserve the integrity of academic assessments.
The swift and decisive action taken by WAEC and the Intelligence Unit of National Security serves as a testament to their unwavering commitment to upholding the standards of academic integrity and ensuring that the integrity of examinations such as the WASSCE remains uncompromised. It also sends a clear message that any attempts to subvert the established protocols and regulations governing educational assessments will be met with stern repercussions.
As stakeholders in the education sector, it is imperative that we remain vigilant against such nefarious activities and work in unison to safeguard the credibility of our examination systems. The exposure and subsequent apprehension of individuals involved in illegal registration serve as a reminder of the collective responsibility we bear in preserving the sanctity of academic assessments.
Moving forward, it is incumbent upon all relevant authorities and educational institutions to implement stringent measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future. By fortifying our defenses against such malpractices, we can ensure that the integrity of our educational assessments is upheld, thereby safeguarding the future prospects of our students and maintaining the credibility of our academic institutions.
-By Aisha Yakubu | GhanaCrimes
