BECE leakage: NDC demands investigations

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has demanded the setting up of an investigation Committee with clear terms of reference to probe the recent leakage of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), resulting in the cancellation of the results. It also asked the government to guarantee the full publication of the findings and recommendation of the committee.

In a press release signed by Dr N Josiah-Aryeh, General Secretary of the party, the NDC demanded a full disclosure of the identities of printing houses, institutions and individuals involved in the malpractices. It alleged that there are suggestions that several of the printers were inexperienced, and their procurement of contracts had been aided by friends in government.

"We are of the view that the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) or the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) should constitute the investigating arm of any body of enquiry set up to probe the leakage in a thorough and systematic manner," it said.

The NDC said internal investigative units of the Ministry of Education and West African Examination Council (WAEC) are ill-equipped to get to the bottom of the matter, as demonstrated by reported arrests effected by the CID. It said prompt action was necessary to avoid legal actions threatened by some parents. The party said the colossal financial loss of about ?42.5 billion as a result of the cancellation, could be used either to renovate the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital or to refurbish dilapidated school buildings.

It urged the government to rid the education system of weaknesses that make examinations leakage possible, and which facilitated several other unacceptable practice including admission on the basis of favouritism. The NDC said "the Minister of Education does not appear to see that his Ministry bears the ultimate responsibility for what has happened." It therefore, demanded the resignation of the Minister "for the massive financial loss that has been occasioned to the state."