Ghanaian students have emerged as the top performers in the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination outperforming their counterparts across the sub-region.
The announcement was made by the West African Examinations Council during its 74th Annual Council Meeting held in Accra, Ghana.
According to the council, Ghana produced the three best candidates out of a total of 2,612,830 students who sat for the examination across five member countries—The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.
Miss Huda Suleman was named the overall best candidate in West Africa, earning the prestigious Augustus Bandele Oyediran Award for 2025. She was followed by Miss Paula Suwo in second place and Miss Matthea Aba Andoh in third.
Speaking at the event, John Dramani Mahama, represented by Vice President Jane Opoku-Agyemang, commended WAEC for its longstanding role in maintaining educational standards across the region.
“We commend the Council for the innovative mechanisms it has put in place to ensure fairness, transparency, and integrity in its examination processes,” he said.
Mahama, however, raised concerns over the growing threat of examination malpractice, warning that it could undermine the credibility of the council if not addressed.
“The increasing activities of individuals seeking to falsify results and manipulate certificates pose a serious danger to the integrity of the examination system,” he stated.
“This is a challenge that requires collective action from all stakeholders to protect the credibility of our educational institutions.”
Also speaking, Ghana’s Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, represented by Deputy Minister Dr Clement Apaak, highlighted the importance of credible assessments in national development.
“Examinations remain a vital tool for measuring both intellectual and practical competencies necessary for national growth,” he said, adding that Ghana will rejoin the international version of the WASSCE starting from 2026.
The council meeting also saw the election of Ghana’s Chief Government Nominee, Prof. Ernest Davis, as Vice Chairman for a one-year term, succeeding Liberia’s Amos Fully.
In addition, Prof. William Asomaning was honoured as a Distinguished Friend of Council for his contributions, while the 31st Endowment Fund Lecture focused on strengthening assessment integrity within the context of credentialism.
The next council meeting, scheduled for March 2027, will be hosted by Nigeria.
