Ghanaian Students Dominate 2025 WASSCE, Outperform Nigeria and Other West African Nations
Ghanaian candidates delivered an exceptional performance in the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, sweeping the top three positions and outperforming their peers from Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia. The results were officially announced during the 74th Annual Council Meeting of the West African Examinations Council held in Accra, Ghana.
Ghana Claims Top Honors in Regional Assessment
A total of 2,612,830 school candidates from the five member countries participated in the examination, with Ghana emerging as the clear standout. Miss Huda Suleman was declared the overall best candidate, earning first prize and the prestigious Augustus Bandele Oyediran Award for Best Candidate in West Africa, 2025. She was closely followed by Miss Paula Suwo in second place and Miss Matthea Aba Andoh in third place, securing all top positions for Ghana.
The West African Examinations Council confirmed these details through a statement issued by Demianus Ojijeogu, Head of Public Affairs at the Ghana headquarters. Officials explained that the rankings were determined based on cumulative scores across all required subjects, reflecting comprehensive academic performance.
Leadership Changes and Governance Matters
The annual council meeting, held from March 24 to 28 at Accra's International Conference Centre, also addressed important governance matters within WAEC. Delegates elected Ghana's Chief Government Nominee, Professor Ernest Davis, as Vice Chairman of the Council for a one-year term. He succeeded Amos Fully of Liberia in this leadership position.
Ghana's Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, represented by Deputy Minister Dr. Clement Apaak, emphasized the crucial role of examinations in developing intellectual and practical skills. He announced Ghana's return to the international version of WASSCE beginning with the 2026 examination diet.
President Mahama Warns About Examination Malpractice Threat
Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, represented by Vice President Jane Opoku-Agyemang, formally opened the proceedings and congratulated WAEC on its 74 years of operation. While praising the council's role in maintaining regional cooperation and educational standards, Mahama issued a stern warning about the growing threat of examination malpractice.
"We commend the Council for the innovative mechanisms it has put in place to maintain fairness, transparency, and integrity in its examination process," Mahama stated. "However, the surge in examination malpractice threatens to erode these enviable goals. The plethora of fraudsters, all too ready to falsify results and alter certificates, threatens the very core of WAEC's mandate."
The President emphasized that this challenge requires collective regional action, calling on all stakeholders who value truth, honesty, and integrity to defend the credibility of WAEC examinations by rejecting malpractice and embracing integrity.
Recognition and Future Plans
The council honored Professor William Asomaning of Ghana as a Distinguished Friend of Council during the meeting. The gathering also featured the 31st Annual Endowment Fund Lecture titled "Fostering Assessment Integrity within the Context of Credentialism," delivered by Professor George K. T. Oduro.
Looking ahead, Nigeria is scheduled to host the 75th council meeting in March 2027. Meanwhile, the Nigerian federal government has reportedly introduced fresh measures to combat examination malpractice in the Senior School Certificate Examination, which serves as a key requirement for admission into tertiary institutions across the country.
These new steps apply to examinations conducted by the West African Examination Council, the National Examination Council, and the National Business and Technical Examinations Board, reflecting growing regional concern about maintaining examination integrity.
