More than 500,000 final-year Senior High School students across Ghana are expected to begin the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) today under heightened security arrangements aimed at protecting the credibility of the exams.

Candidates nationwide are scheduled to start the examination with the Oral English paper as the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) rolls out tighter anti-malpractice measures, including delayed printing of question papers and enhanced monitoring at examination centres.

The 2026 examination also marks Ghana’s return to the regional WASSCE system alongside other West African countries after years of writing separate examinations following disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Head of Public Affairs at WAEC, John Kapi, says the council has completed all preparations and is working closely with stakeholders to ensure a smooth and credible examination process.

Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, Mr. Kapi disclosed that WAEC deliberately delayed the printing of examination papers as part of efforts to prevent leakages and clamp down on individuals seeking to compromise the integrity of the exams.

“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 stated.

According to WAEC, all examination materials required for schools and centres across the country have been prepared and distribution is expected to follow the official timetable without delays.

Mr. Kapi further assured candidates, parents and school authorities that the council remains ready to conduct the examinations successfully across the country.

“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 its fight against examination malpractice through stricter supervision, tighter security protocols and increased collaboration with security agencies.

The 2026 WASSCE is expected to continue over the coming weeks, with candidates sitting for both core and elective subjects at hundreds of examination centres nationwide.