Sunyani was thrown into chaos on Tuesday as hundreds of irate parents and guardians stormed the premises of the Bono Regional office of the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC). The uproar stemmed from the cancellation of some subjects in the 2023 West African Senior High School Examination (WASSCE).
According to reports from the Ghana News Agency (GNA), WAEC had invited the concerned parents and guardians, along with their children and wards, regarding the withheld results of candidates from 235 schools. These schools were accused of providing answers generated by artificial intelligence during the WASSCE.
Furthermore, WAEC announced the cancellation of the results of 3,647 other candidates for bringing unauthorized materials into the examination halls, such as prepared notes, textbooks, and printed materials.
When GNA visited the WAEC office in Sunyani around 11:00 AM, a heavy police presence was required to maintain law and order as tensions flared between some parents and WAEC officials. Many parents expressed frustration, stating that they had arrived at the WAEC office as early as 5:00 AM but had not been engaged by any Council official by 11:00 AM.
Dr. Ameyaw Akumfi, an Accra-based Reverend Minister and concerned parent, called on the government to intervene swiftly to ensure WAEC releases the withheld results. He criticized WAEC for negligence and incompetence, suggesting that their inaction had allowed the alleged malpractices to occur, potentially jeopardizing the future of innocent students.
Mrs. Agartha Santio, another concerned parent, lamented the uncertainty faced by the affected students, expressing concern that they might become a burden if the situation persists.
Some affected candidates expressed willingness to rewrite the affected papers and urged WAEC to make a decision promptly. Others denied engaging in any form of malpractice and questioned WAEC's decision to penalize entire schools for the actions of a few.
However, officials at the regional office of WAEC declined to comment on the matter, stating they were directed from the WAEC Head Office in Accra and that the Bono Region Controller was unavailable for comment.
The situation underscores the urgency for a resolution to ensure the affected students' academic futures are not compromised.
