An Accra High Court has dismissed the West African Examinations Council’s (WAEC) application for a stay of execution regarding its previous ruling that mandated the immediate release of withheld results for approximately 10,000 candidates from the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The court imposed a fine of GHS 5,000 on WAEC for its actions.
On December 30, 2024, WAEC announced it had withheld results due to alleged examination malpractices among candidates.
However, on January 30, 2025, the court ruled in favor of four students who challenged WAEC’s decision, stating that the council’s rationale for withholding results was “ambiguous and inconsistent.” The court emphasized that delaying the release could significantly impact students’ academic and professional futures.
During a hearing on February 20, 2025, Justice Ali Baba Abature ruled that WAEC failed to provide adequate justification for its request to suspend the earlier ruling.
Following this decision, Reverend Victor Brew, WAEC’s Head of Legal Affairs, indicated that the council plans to appeal the ruling at the Court of Appeal. He stated, “We are going to explore that option,” confirming their intention to seek a stay of execution in the higher court.
