Story: Rebecca Tetteh

A sea of uniforms will flood examination centres   across the country today as over 600,000 candidates begin the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) confirmed that all logistics have been deployed to the various districts to ensure a seamless start. 

This year’s cohort sees a significant increase in enrollment, marking one of the largest sittings in the history of the pre-tertiary exams.

To combat the perennial issue of exam malpractice, the Ministry of Education has partnered with the police to provide 24-hour security at all storage depots. 

Any candidate or invigilator caught with mobile phones or unauthorized materials will be sanctioned immediately.

Also a high-level monitoring teams from the Ghana Education Service (GES) will be touring centres nationwide to ensure compliance with standard operating procedures.

Presidential and ministerial messages have poured in since Sunday evening, urging candidates to remain calm and focused. Parents are encouraged to provide the necessary psychological support for their wards during this critical week.

“You have spent years preparing for this moment. Be confident, be honest, and let your hard work shine through”,  a GES spokesperson stated during a final briefing.

The exams are scheduled to run through the week, concluding on Friday. For many of these students, today represents the first major hurdle toward securing a spot in Ghana’s Free Senior High School programme.