Four students of  Ofori Panin Senior High School (OPASS), have been allocated police escorts because of their alleged involvement in a variety of criminal activities, including robbery, are writing the West Africa Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) this year.

63 additional applicants are escorted by their parents or legal guardians.

Among these candidates receiving police protection, one is currently on remand and is taking the exams from the Akyem Tafo Police cells. This arrangement stems from a prior incident in July this year when a deboardinized student, Kelvin Bonzy, who had been granted bail by the police for robbery, was fatally attacked by a mob in Koforidua while attempting to rob a female student from Koforidua Technical University (KTU).

The remaining 63 students who arrived with their parents or guardians are believed to have engaged in various forms of misconduct on campus prior to the final examination.

To distinguish these 67 candidates who have been listed for various forms of misconduct, they are required to wear an all-white uniform to school. This decision aligns with the directive issued by the Ghana Education Service (GES) aimed at addressing spontaneous indiscipline among final year students after registering for the WASSCE. The directive empowers school management to deboardinize students found guilty of gross misconduct, while those involved in criminal activities are to be handed over to the police.

In a separate incident at the Ofori Panin Senior High School examination center, during the English Language paper, a candidate was partially undressed by an official for wearing attire that did not comply with the prescribed dress code. The student had worn a white top and brown khaki shorts instead of the required all-white attire, resulting in the official removing the shorts, leaving the candidate in boxer shorts to continue the examination.

These incidents highlight reports of maltreatment and intimidation of candidates at the examination center, raising concerns about the treatment of students during the examination process.