The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has strongly refuted claims made by Ghana’s Minister for Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, regarding the release date of the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results. In a statement described as “scandalous,” WAEC’s Director of Public Affairs, John Kapi, emphasized that the Minister’s assertion lacks factual basis.
Minister’s Announcement and WAEC’s Response
During a working visit to WAEC on Monday, Dr. Adutwum assured the public that the 2024 WASSCE results would be released by Sunday, December 29, 2024. He indicated that WAEC staff were working diligently during the festive season to finalize the results.
“I came to apprise myself of developments in terms of the fact that they are working now through the holidays to get the results out on or before the 29th of this month,” the Minister stated. According to Dr. Adutwum, approximately 50% of the scanning process had been completed, and he expressed confidence that the results would be ready before the year’s end.
However, John Kapi strongly disagreed with the Minister’s timeline, asserting that WAEC had not committed to any such date. Speaking to Starr FM, Kapi revealed that there was no formal engagement between WAEC and the Minister regarding the release schedule. He explained that the Minister’s visit was brief and did not involve detailed discussions about the logistical challenges hindering the results’ release.
“Let me tell you what happened this morning,” Kapi recounted. “The Minister came, was taken around by the head of office, shown the broken-down machines and the ones working at partial capacity. He saw the heap of objective answer cards yet to be scanned and then stepped out. There was no formal meeting to discuss solutions or timelines. Yet, he told the media we said we would release the results by December 28th or 29th. That statement is factually incorrect.”
Ongoing Challenges at WAEC
Kapi also highlighted the operational difficulties faced by WAEC, including broken machines and unresolved financial constraints. He lamented the lack of collective action to address these issues, which have delayed the processing of results for approximately 460,000 candidates nationwide.
“This is scandalous because why are we toying with people’s future?” Kapi asked. “Our staff also have children who took the exams. We’re all affected by this. It’s not just a problem for some third party; we are Ghanaians too. We need to tell the truth and find a sustainable solution.”
Financial Constraints and Government Debt
WAEC has previously disclosed that financial constraints have hampered its operations, citing government debt exceeding GH₵100 million. Despite this, Dr. Adutwum assured reporters that the debts would not impact the timely release of the results. When pressed about additional payments to WAEC, the Minister dismissed the question, stating, “Excuse me, you don’t have the facts.”
The Minister clarified that his visit was not intended to address the debt issue but was part of a routine check-in with the examination body.
A Call for Transparency
Kapi’s comments reflect a broader call for transparency and collaboration to resolve the ongoing challenges. He urged all stakeholders to focus on finding practical solutions to ensure the smooth release of results without compromising the integrity of the process.
As of now, WAEC has not issued an official statement regarding a definitive release date for the 2024 WASSCE results. The organization continues to work through logistical challenges in an effort to meet expectations.
Source: GESHub.org
