Headmaster Writes BECE - He's Being Questioned By Police

The Headmaster of Mawuli International School at Akwatia has been arrested on suspicion of posing as a candidate in the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

John Ahiale, 36, who was smartly dressed in school uniform, was spotted by one of the supervisors sitting behind a desk, with index number 212101003, at the St Rose’s Senior High School Centre.

He is alleged to have registered as a candidate.

The suspect, however, claimed that he was just writing the papers for himself, notwithstanding his age, profession and position as headmaster.

The acting Director of the Test Administration Division of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Mr Kweku Nyamekye-Aidoo, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic yesterday, said a supervisor had confronted Ahiale to ascertain his real identity because of his size and age.

He said it was some of the candidates who disclosed Ahiale’s identity as a headmaster and not a student.

Mr Nyamekye-Aidoo explained that Ahiale was able to write the first day's papers on Monday — English Language Paper One and Two and Social Studies Paper One.

'He was, however, stopped from writing Social Studies Paper Two on Tuesday morning because we are convinced he might have registered for a candidate who bears the same name like his and was writing for that candidate,' he said.

Mr Nyamekye-Aidoo said Ahiale had been handed over to the Akwatia Police for investigation.

The Akwatia District Police Commander, DSP Nana Yawson, confirmed to the Daily Graphic that the suspect was in police custody.

He, however, said the police intended to grant Ahiale bail to continue with the examination because WAEC had confirmed that he duly registered for the BECE.

He wondered why someone who authenticated the registration of candidates for the examination would himself register for the same examination.

DSP Yawson said the police would collaborate with WAEC and the Ghana Education Service to get to the bottom of the matter.

The BECE enters its third day today, with candidates left with four more papers to write. They are Mathematics, Basic Design and Technology, Ghanaian Language and French.

In all, 350,888 candidates from 10,016 schools are participating in this year’s BECE, which ends on Friday