The West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) has announced that individuals caught violating rules during the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) are being prepared for legal action.

More than nine people have been arrested in the ongoing BECE.

In a statement released on Tuesday, WAEC emphasized that before the exams began, briefing sessions were conducted with District Directors of Education and Supervisors to inform them about new regulations governing the examination.

“Among other things, the supervisors were informed that they were prohibited from bringing along mobile phones to the examination centres. A stern warning was issued against this practice.”

“However, some chose not to heed this advice and so they were arrested by the NIB and the locally recruited agents by WAEC and handed over to the police,” it added.

According to WAEC, at the Save our Souls Educational Centre in Bekwai, three teachers—Patience Serwaah, Oscar Ben Azumah, and Thomas Gyimadu—were arrested for attempting to assist candidates. Additionally, unrelated individuals who tried to aid candidates included Christian Osei and Kyei Baffour Alex.

“They are Patience Serwaah, Oscar Ben Azumah, and Thomas Gyimadu. Other persons who were unrelated to the examination but came around attempting to assist the candidates are Christian Osei and Kyei Baffour Alex,” it added.

WAEC reported that at the Jinijini Senior High School Centre, two invigilators were caught taking photos of English Language question papers and sharing them on a WhatsApp group named ‘Koraso Ma JHS.’

“Nkoranza Senior High School. An invigilator, Abeam Danso, was arrested with a mobile phone on which were answers to the Religious and Moral Education Questions. Chemu Senior High School, Tema, a teacher, Amoako Joseph, was arrested for taking pictures of the question papers and posting them on a platform named ‘Apor Lord for BECE, 2024.’

“Liberty Hills School centre, an invigilator, Faaweerie Patrick, was arrested for taking pictures of the Science paper and handed over to the police. Jachie Pramso SHS centre in the Ashanti Region, an invigilator, Danso Emmanuel had a phone on him in the examination while Mensah Emmanuel (invigilator) had pieces of paper on which were answers to the questions of the English Language paper,” WAEC stated.

Additionally, at Santoe Basic School, teachers from DESVY International School were discovered solving Science questions on their school bus to transmit answers to students in the examination hall.

The implicated teachers—Thomas Ativor, Emmanuel Ammisah, Edwin Goodluck, and Richard Boateng—have all been reported to the police and are facing legal proceedings, according to WAEC.

“They are; Thomas Ativor, 37, a Twi language teacher, Emmanuel Ammisah, 47, a mathematics teacher, Edwin Goodluck, 39, a Science teacher and Richard Boateng, 32, a Computing teacher,” it added.

WAEC therefore opined that “They have all been reported to the police and are being processed for court.”