The Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS) has asked the Ministry of Education to appoint an independent committee to examine the marking of the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), claiming that private-school candidates were graded unfairly compared with pupils in public schools.
Obenfo Nana Kwasi Gyetuah, the organisation’s Executive Director, said GNACOPS had collected credible evidence suggesting that the results awarded to many private-school candidates did not match their academic performance or continuous assessment records.
Speaking on GTV on Tuesday, 4 August, Mr Gyetuah said the council had submitted the learners’ continuous assessment information through the Ghana Education Service. He argued that this gave GNACOPS sufficient evidence to challenge the results issued by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).
“We are the people that submitted the continuous assessment records to the ministry through the Ghana Education Service on these learners. So, when we come out to say that the examination results issued by WAEC are not a true reflection of the academic performance of these learners, we know exactly what we are saying,” he said.
“And so, we have evidence here, data to prove that the grades issued to the learners do not commensurate with or reflect their academic performance over the years.”
Mr Gyetuah said more than 14,000 private schools had submitted concerns since GNACOPS asked its members for feedback at the weekend.
The council has prepared a petition for the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, which it plans to submit alongside affected pupils and their parents. GNACOPS says its priority is to prevent the disputed results from damaging the students’ academic careers.
“Our main argument, or the relief that we are seeking, is that in order not to disrupt the academic career of these learners, the ministry should set up an independent review committee to review the work that WAEC has done. Over the years, WAEC has been a master and a servant to itself. It is now time we demand accountability for the work it has done,” he stated.
GNACOPS has also called on WAEC to release candidates’ examination scripts for independent examination. The organisation believes allowing outside scrutiny of the scripts would improve transparency and help rebuild confidence in the examination system.
Mr Gyetuah said GNACOPS had been invited to appear before Parliament’s Education Committee, where it would present its evidence and outline its concerns.
While the dispute continues, member schools have been instructed to offer counselling and psychological support to students affected by the contested results.
Minister asks for evidence
Responding to the allegations, Mr Iddrisu urged GNACOPS to provide credible evidence if it believed there had been irregularities in the marking process.
“I am not responsible for the conduct of exams. The West African Examinations Council is,” Mr Iddrisu said during an appearance on GTV’s Breakfast Show on Tuesday.
“I understand that the private schools are very unhappy. Justifiably, what they should do is to reach out to me with legitimate evidence of any underhandedness that undermined the integrity of the examinations.”
The Education Minister said the BECE results should be treated as the outcome of a properly conducted examination by WAEC unless evidence of wrongdoing was produced.
