Ghana Outshines Nigeria, Others With Top Three 2025 WASSCE Performers

Ghanaian students have once again demonstrated academic excellence in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates 2025, claiming the top three positions across the five participating West African countries.

The outstanding performance was highlighted during the 74th Annual Council Meeting of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), held from March 24 to 28, 2026, at the International Conference Centre in Accra, Ghana.

Out of 2,612,830 candidates who sat for the examination from The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone, three Ghanaian students recorded the highest cumulative scores in the region.

This achievement was announced in a statement by Demianus Ojijeogu, Head of Public Affairs at WAEC Headquarters, Ghana.

Miss Huda Suglo Suleman emerged as the overall best candidate in West Africa. She also clinched the prestigious Augustus Bandele Oyediran Award for Best Candidate in the sub-region.

She was closely followed by Miss Paula Adzo Elinam Sowu in second place, and Miss Matthea Aba Andoh in third position.

The annual meeting, which convenes delegates from WAEC’s five member countries, also saw the election of Ghana’s Chief Government Nominee, Prof. Ernest Davis, as Vice Chairman of the Council for a one-year term. He takes over from Amos Fully of Liberia.

Ghana’s Vice President, Jane Opoku-Agyemang, represented President John Dramani Mahama at the opening ceremony. In his keynote address, President Mahama commended WAEC for its 74 years of promoting educational standards and regional cooperation.

However, he raised concerns about the rising cases of examination malpractice, warning that such practices could undermine the council’s credibility.

“We commend the Council for the innovative mechanisms it has put in place to maintain fairness, transparency, and integrity,” Mahama said.

“However, the surge in examination malpractice threatens to erode these enviable goals. The plethora of fraudsters ready to falsify results and alter certificates poses a serious risk to WAEC’s mandate.”

He called for collective action from all stakeholders to defend the integrity of the examinations, urging citizens to reject malpractice and uphold honesty.

The Ghana Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, represented by Deputy Minister Dr. Clement Apaak, highlighted the role of examinations in building essential intellectual and practical skills for national development. He also announced Ghana’s return to the international version of WASSCE starting with the 2026 diet.

During the meeting, WAEC honoured Prof. William Asomaning of Ghana as a Distinguished Friend of the Council for his significant contributions. The 31st Annual Endowment Fund Lecture, titled “Fostering Assessment Integrity within the Context of Credentialism,” was delivered by Professor George K. T. Oduro.

The 75th WAEC Annual Council Meeting is scheduled to be hosted by Nigeria in March 2027.