"Ensure that sick candidates write exams"-Minister tells CHRAJ

Mr Henry Ford Kamel, Volta Regional Minister on Monday expressed misgivings about the inability of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to make provisions for hospitalized BECE candidates to write their exams at the hospital.

He described the situation as a violation of the rights of candidates and called on the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to intervene on behalf of sick candidates.

Mr Kamel said this when he toured some Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) centres in Ho where he was told that some candidates were sick and hospitalized and could not take the examinations.

He held the view that sickness was no fault of the candidates and wondered why provisions were not made for candidates who could write their papers on their sick bed.

Mr Kamel visited Nyahe Stella, a pupil from the Anglican Junior High School, who was on admission at the Ho Municipal Hospital diagnosed of enteric fever.

He wished her quick recovery and directed the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) to take up her hospital bill.

There were other candidates absent and reported to be sick.

Mr Kamel also visited purblind, Master Patrick Kwaku Godonu, also a candidate from the Anglican Junior High School, busily writing his English Paper two, with the help of a hand-held bi-focal lens, and wished him well.

Generally, the examinations began smoothly in the Ho Township.

Almost all the centres had all materials on time and started on schedule.

At Mawuli School Centre “A”, all candidates were present but a candidate was absent at the Centre “B”.

Two girls were also absent at the Mawuko Girls centre with no absentee at the OLA Senior High School.**