More than 500,000 final-year Senior High School students across Ghana are set to begin the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), with the Oral English paper marking the start of the nationwide exercise.

This year’s examination is particularly significant as Ghana returns to the regional WASSCE system alongside other West African countries, after years of administering separate national papers due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) says it has completed all necessary preparations to ensure a smooth and credible conduct of the exams across the country.

Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, 12 May 2026, WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, John Kapi, indicated that additional security measures have been implemented to protect the integrity of the examination process.

“In terms of preparations, I think we are very much on course. For security reasons, we delayed the printing of the exam papers because we don’t want the papers out there early to prevent the activities of those who want to compromise the integrity of the exams,” he said.

He assured candidates, parents, and school authorities that all examination materials have been prepared and will be delivered to centres nationwide in line with the official timetable.

“For every institution, what they need for the exams is ready. We are very sure that we will be within time so we will work with the timetable that we have brought out,” he added.

WAEC has in recent years intensified efforts to curb examination malpractice through tighter security protocols, enhanced monitoring systems, and closer collaboration with security agencies.

The exams will be conducted across hundreds of centres nationwide, with candidates expected to sit for a range of core and elective subjects over the coming weeks.

The outcome of the WASSCE remains a critical milestone for students, determining access to tertiary education and shaping future academic and career pathways.