The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has launched a full-scale investigation into alleged exam malpractice at the Armed Forces Senior High Technical School (SHTS) in Accra after officials confiscated a mobile phone belonging to an invigilator.

The invigilator, identified as Bright Amoah, was caught with the device on Monday, August 25, 2025, during a routine monitoring exercise while candidates were writing their first major paper, Social Studies, at the Burma Camp examination center.

According to WAEC, the seized phone allegedly contained already-solved WASSCE questions. Although the material reportedly came from Oral English and Picture Making papers that had already been written, WAEC suspects possible foul play and a serious breach of examination regulations.

WAEC has directed the Examination Centre Supervisor to provide a detailed report explaining how an invigilator gained access to the exam hall with a mobile phone, which is strictly prohibited. Under the WAEC Act, invigilators and supervisors are banned from carrying mobile phones or unauthorized materials into examination halls, with such violations considered criminal offences.

The confiscated phone is now undergoing forensic investigations to trace the source of the questions and determine if a wider malpractice syndicate is involved. WAEC has also ordered the invigilator to submit a written report on the incident.

Exam malpractice has long been a challenge in Ghana and across West Africa. A 2024 Africa Education Watch report revealed that examination fraud remains a major threat to the credibility of the WASSCE certificate and the quality of students progressing to tertiary institutions.

This latest incident underscores WAEC’s commitment to fighting exam malpractice and protecting the integrity of Ghana’s education system.