Ghana Minute.
Monday, 21 September 2026
Ghana’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Monday, 21 September 2026
Accra—:—London—:—New York—:—Beijing—:—
Ghanaian press · Person

John Kapi

2026-04-272026-09-21

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. September 2026
  2. Joy Online

    Head of Public Affairs at WAEC Ghana, John Kapi, said regular reading was essential to helping students build their vocabulary, improve sentence construction and develop the ability to understand and analyse texts.

    WAEC urges revival of reading culture, better teacher training to improve English
  3. Joy Online

    Head of Public Affairs at WAEC Ghana, John Kapi, said the pass rate in English Language fell from 69% in 2025 to 62.40% in 2026.

    WAEC blames weak grammar, poor reading culture for decline in 2026 WASSCE English results
  4. August 2026
  5. Joy Online

    Speaking on Citi FM on Thursday, August 6, WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, John Kapi, said candidates who believe their results do not reflect their performance can apply for remarking through the Council’s established procedures.

    WAEC open to BECE script remarking but rejects independent audit
  6. Joy Online

    Addressing a press briefing in Accra on Thursday, the Head of Public Affairs at WAEC, John Kapi, said assertions that the Council deliberately awards lower grades to candidates from private schools were unfounded and unsupported by evidence.

    WAEC dismisses claims of bias against private school BECE candidates
  7. Joy Online

    Head of Public Affairs at WAEC, John Kapi, said the two institutions implemented a number of initiatives before the examination to discourage candidates from engaging in dishonest practices.

    Doubled efforts helped curb examination malpractice in 2026 BECE — WAEC
  8. Joy Online

    Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Monday, August 3, WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, John Kapi, said candidates who believe their results do not reflect their performance have the right to apply for a review through their schools.

    WAEC explains how dissatisfied BECE candidates can apply for remarking
  9. June 2026
  10. Joy Online

    WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, John Kapi, emphasised that the examination is conducted simultaneously across several countries in the West African sub-region.

    WAEC rules out exception for 154 Sekondi College students barred from exam
  11. May 2026
  12. Joy Online

    Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse, the Head of Public Affairs at WAEC, John Kapi, disclosed “that a total of 43 people had been arrested so far, all of whom are teachers.” Mr Kapi clarified that no students have been arrested in connection with the malpractice cases.

    WAEC confirms arrest of 43 teachers over BECE exam malpractice
  13. Joy Online

    According to WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, John Kapi, the suspects were picked up for various irregularities, although full details are yet to be released.

    BECE: Five arrested over exam malpractice – WAEC
  14. Joy Online

    So any candidate who comes into the examination hall with a mobile phone would have their entire results cancelled,” WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, John Kapi, said during an interview on Channel One TV on Sunday, May 3.

    WAEC warns BECE candidates against assaulting officials, carrying phones
Society

WAEC cancels results for exam misconduct; English grades decline

The News

WAEC cancelled the entire results of 861 candidates for possessing mobile phones in examination halls and the subject results of 7,434 candidates for bringing unauthorised materials. Performance in English Language declined, with the proportion achieving top grades falling from 69 per cent in 2025 to 62.40 per cent in 2026, attributed to weaknesses in grammar, spelling, concord, and comprehension.

8 September 2026 · The Chronicle

Tuesday 8 September

  1. WAEC cancels results for exam misconduct; English grades decline

    WAEC cancelled the entire results of 861 candidates for possessing mobile phones in examination halls and the subject results of 7,434 candidates for bringing unauthorised materials. Performance in English Language declined, with the proportion achieving top grades falling from 69 per cent in 2025 to 62.40 per cent in 2026, attributed to weaknesses in grammar, spelling, concord, and comprehension.

    8 September 2026 · The Chronicle

Monday 7 September

  1. WAEC says further study needed on core subject performance swings

    The West African Examinations Council admits that more research is required to understand why performance in core subjects fluctuates yearly, with Mathematics improving this year while English Language declined. WAEC's Director of Public Affairs said the Council's analysis shows English Language has been declining between 2023 and 2026, while Mathematics, Inter-Science, and Social Studies have also fluctuated, suggesting a need to examine how students are prepared for the examination.

    7 September 2026 · Joy Online

  2. WAEC seeks research to explain shifting core subject failure patterns

    The West African Examinations Council says it requires further research to understand why poor performance in Ghana's core WASSCE subjects shifts from one subject to another. The 2026 WASSCE results showed Core Mathematics improved while English Language declined, and WAEC's analysis from 2023 to 2026 reveals fluctuating trends across Mathematics, Integrated Science, and Social Studies, with English Language showing steady decline.

    7 September 2026 · Joy Online

  3. WAEC calls for research into declining English Language exam performance

    The West African Examinations Council is requesting further study into why students persistently underperform in English Language at the senior high school level. WAEC's analysis shows a steady decline in English Language results between 2023 and 2026, with the subject now the weakest among core subjects, while performance in mathematics, integrated science, and social studies has fluctuated over the same period.

    7 September 2026 · Joy Online

  4. Education Ministry monitoring social media language impact on students

    The Ministry of Education says concerns over students' use of "social media language" in classrooms are not being overlooked, though the issue has not yet formally come before the Ministry. The Ministry is awaiting WAEC's Chief Examiner's Report, which it expects will provide broader context after the English Language pass rate fell from 69% in 2025 to 62.40% in 2026.

    7 September 2026 · Joy Online

  5. Social media language appearing in students' exam scripts

    The Head of Public Affairs at WAEC Ghana says informal expressions from social media platforms are increasingly appearing in students' examination scripts. English Language pass rates fell from 69 per cent in 2025 to 62.40 per cent in 2026, and examiners have also identified poor grammar control, weak expression, concord errors, and spelling mistakes.

    7 September 2026 · Joy Online

  6. Students struggle to translate word problems into maths

    The Head of Public Affairs at WAEC Ghana says many candidates continue to struggle with translating word problems into mathematical statements, despite improved overall mathematics performance. He urges teachers to give students more exercises to improve their understanding of mathematical language and interpretation.

    7 September 2026 · Joy Online

  7. WAEC questions search effectiveness after phones found on candidates

    The West African Examinations Council has raised concerns about possible lapses in security checks at examination centres after mobile phones were discovered on candidates during the 2026 WASSCE. WAEC's Head of Public Affairs said supervisors and invigilators have been instructed to conduct thorough searches, and noted that possession of a mobile phone results in cancellation of a candidate's entire results.

    7 September 2026 · Joy Online

  8. WAEC withholds 270 candidates' results for suspected exam offences

    The West African Examinations Council has withheld the results of 270 candidates over suspected examination offences in the 2026 WASSCE. Additionally, WAEC cancelled subject results for 7,434 candidates for bringing unauthorised materials and entire results for 861 candidates found with mobile phones.

    7 September 2026 · Joy Online

  9. WAEC cancels results of 861 candidates found with mobile phones

    The West African Examinations Council has cancelled the entire examination results of 861 candidates who were found in possession of mobile phones during the 2026 examinations. WAEC's regulations prohibit candidates from possessing mobile phones in examination halls regardless of whether the devices are used.

    7 September 2026 · Joy Online

  10. WAEC calls for reading culture revival and better teacher training

    WAEC Ghana has urged a renewal of reading culture among students and improved teacher training to address declining English Language performance in Ghanaian schools. The council's Head of Public Affairs said regular reading helps students build vocabulary and understanding, and recommended schools give students exercises like writing summaries of texts they have read.

    7 September 2026 · Joy Online

  11. WAEC identifies grammar weaknesses, poor reading for English decline

    The West African Examinations Council has blamed the decline in English Language performance in the 2026 WASSCE on weak grammar, poor reading habits, and informal language influence. The pass rate fell from 69% in 2025 to 62.40% in 2026, with candidates struggling with grammar control, concord errors, spelling, and comprehension of texts.

    7 September 2026 · Joy Online

Thursday 6 August

  1. WAEC allows BECE remarking but rejects private school script audits

    The West African Examinations Council says it will remark BECE scripts where genuine concerns are raised but will not permit private school associations to independently scrutinize candidates' scripts. WAEC's Head of Public Affairs stated that individual candidates can apply for remarking through established procedures, which would be handled by WAEC's Chief Examiner, but requests must come from individual schools rather than associations.

    6 August 2026 · Joy Online

  2. WAEC denies bias against private school BECE candidates

    The West African Examinations Council has firmly denied allegations that candidates from private schools are disadvantaged in marking the Basic Education Certificate Examination, insisting that its assessment procedures are transparent, objective and applied uniformly to every candidate. The response follows concerns raised by the Ghana National Association of Private Schools over provisional 2026 BECE results and alleged grading irregularities.

    6 August 2026 · Joy Online

Monday 3 August

  1. WAEC, GES doubled efforts to curb 2026 BECE malpractice

    The West African Examinations Council and Ghana Education Service intensified efforts to eliminate examination malpractice in the 2026 BECE through public education campaigns, engagement with traditional and religious leaders, and deployment of monitors across the country. These measures contributed to a significant reduction in reported cases of examination malpractice compared to previous years.

    3 August 2026 · Joy Online

  2. WAEC outlines remarking process for dissatisfied BECE candidates

    The West African Examinations Council says candidates unhappy with their Basic Education Certificate Examination results can request remarking through their schools via district examinations officers. WAEC retrieves scripts and arranges for the chief examiner to review them, though candidates must pay for the service.

    3 August 2026 · Joy Online

Saturday 13 June

  1. WAEC maintains bar on 154 Sekondi College students

    The West African Examinations Council has upheld its decision to prevent 154 Sekondi College students from sitting Thursday's Chemistry examinations, citing its strict regulations against late entry and the need to maintain credibility across simultaneous regional exams. WAEC's Head of Public Affairs stated that students were already on campus and did not need to travel far, countering the PTA's claim that heavy rainfall caused the delay.

    13 June 2026 · Joy Online

Tuesday 12 May

  1. WAEC confirms arrest of 43 teachers for BECE exam malpractice

    The West African Examinations Council has confirmed the arrest of 43 teachers involved in examination malpractice during the Basic Education Certificate Examination. No students have been arrested; their statements are taken for investigation before final decisions are made.

    12 May 2026 · Joy Online

Monday 4 May

  1. Five arrested for BECE exam malpractice across Ghana

    The West African Examinations Council has confirmed the arrest of five individuals for examination malpractice during the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination, with specific details to be released after investigations conclude. WAEC is also deploying additional oversight measures and engaging community stakeholders to discourage exam irregularities.

    4 May 2026 · Joy Online

  2. WAEC bans phones, warns BECE candidates of exam sanctions

    The West African Examinations Council has cautioned over 620,000 candidates sitting the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination to avoid assaults on officials, possession of prohibited items including mobile phones, or examination malpractice, warning that violations could result in cancellation of results and bans from future examinations. The nationwide exam begins Monday, May 4, across 20,395 schools.

    4 May 2026 · Joy Online

Friday 1 May

  1. GES bans teachers, invigilators implicated in BECE malpractices

    Eight months after an investigative report exposed corrupt practices within the Ghana Education Service during the 2025 BECE, GES has banned all teachers and invigilators implicated in examination malpractices from participating in this year's exercise. The investigation found that GES staff, supervisors, head teachers, invigilators and others had institutionalized malpractice to ensure candidates passed.

    1 May 2026 · Joy Online

Monday 27 April

  1. WAEC adjusts exam times and questions to prevent leakages

    The West African Examinations Council has adjusted examination questions and schedules to address cross-border leakages, including changing Ghana's exam start time from 9:00 am to 8:30 am to account for Nigeria's one-hour time difference.

    27 April 2026 · Joy Online

John Kapi — Ghanaian press coverage · Ghana Minute