The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has expressed its dissatisfaction with the government’s release of GH¢25 million to partially settle a debt of GHS118 million owed to the Council.
WAEC has stated that the payment is grossly inadequate to facilitate the release of the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results, which remain delayed.
The delay has caused widespread concern among students, parents, and educational institutions, as WAEC’s ongoing financial challenges continue to disrupt its operations.
Speaking to the media, John Kapi, WAEC’s Head of Public Relations, criticized the insufficiency of the government’s payment, highlighting the Council’s substantial financial obligations.
“Obviously, that [the GH¢25 million] was just a drop in the ocean as far as the amount of money required for the job we are supposed to do is concerned,” Mr. Kapi indicated.
He revealed that WAEC owes its technicians GH¢25 million, an amount that must be cleared before they can begin working on the equipment needed to process the results.
“If we decide to invite the technicians today or even tomorrow, all they are going to ask for is the outstanding payment and so all of that GH¢25 million will go,” he explained, stressing the urgency of the situation.
The delayed release of the WASSCE results has created uncertainty for thousands of students awaiting admission to tertiary institutions, as well as for parents and schools reliant on timely results.
WAEC has maintained that the release of additional funds is critical to complete the necessary operations and deliver the results.
Meanwhile, educational stakeholders have urged the government to address the funding shortfall as a matter of priority, warning that prolonged delays could undermine confidence in the examination system and disrupt students’ academic progression.
Watch the latest edition of BizTech below:
Click here to follow the GhanaWeb Business WhatsApp channel