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BECE 2026: 19 Arrested as WAEC and Ministry of Education Launch "Zero-Tolerance" Crackdown on Malpractice
​By Beyond Ghana Coverage News Desk
Wednesday, May 6, 2026

​The integrity of the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) is under intense scrutiny as the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), in collaboration with security agencies, has apprehended 19 individuals for alleged examination malpractice.
​The arrests, which took place across six regions on Wednesday, target supervisors and invigilators accused of compromising the examination process. This massive sweep follows a stern warning from the Ministry of Education, which has labeled those aiding in cheating as "enemies of the state."
​Regional Breakdown of Arrests
​The crackdown has been widespread, with the Ashanti Region recording the highest number of incidents:
​Ashanti Region: 10 arrests
​Eastern Region: 3 arrests
​Bono Region: 2 arrests
​Central Region: 2 arrests
​Greater Accra: 1 arrest
​Western Region: 1 arrest
​High-Tech Cheating and AI
​According to WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, John Kapi, the suspects employed various methods to assist candidates. Some were caught smuggling mobile phones into examination halls to capture images of question papers, while others reportedly used AI tools like ChatGPT to generate answers, which were then dictated or distributed to students.
​"Ruthless" Consequences
​In a statement signed by Deputy Education Minister Dr. Clement Apaak, the government reiterated that there will be no leniency for officials found guilty.
​"We are of the firm conviction that any individual complicit in examination malpractice is an enemy of the state and would be dealt with ruthlessly," the statement read.
​Punishments for involved teachers and officials include immediate interdiction, dismissal from the Ghana Education Service (GES), and criminal prosecution. In the Bono Region, two individuals have already been processed through the courts and handed fines of GH₵2,400 each.
​A Call for Integrity
​Over 620,000 candidates are sitting for this year’s exams across 2,303 centers. WAEC and the GES have urged parents and teachers to resist the urge to facilitate cheating, noting that 40 persons were caught last year, with eight already serving convictions.
​As the BECE continues through May 11, security surveillance remains at an all-time high to ensure that the results reflect the true competence of Ghana’s students.
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​HEADLINE: 19 ARRESTED FOR BECE MALPRACTICE! 🚨
​The Ministry of Education is taking no prisoners. Today, 19 supervisors and teachers were picked up across 6 regions—with 10 arrests coming from the Ashanti Region alone. From using mobile phones to AI-generated answers, the crackdown is real.
​The Ministry says these officials are "enemies of the state." Do you think immediate dismissal and prosecution is a fair punishment for teachers caught helping students cheat?
​Read the full story on our blog: [Link to your Blogger Post]
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