The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has revealed that it will not be able to settle all outstanding debts ahead of the 2024 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) due to outstanding arrears owed by the government.

Despite the release of over 47 million cedis by the Finance Ministry to defray part of the approximately 90 million cedis owed to the examination body, WAEC spokesperson John Kapi stated that the amount released will be used to address priority items on its scale of preference.

Mr Kapi explained that while some answer booklets have been printed and pencils and bond paper purchased, the debtors will not be paid, although the examination will proceed as planned.

This revelation comes after WAEC clarified that it only received GH¢47.125 million from the government, contrary to the GH¢80 million announced in Parliament by the Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh.

Annoh-Dompreh had stated that the Ministry of Finance released GH¢80 million to the council, but Kapi clarified that it was GH¢47.125 million that was received and that the amount had been processed through the Government Integrated Financial Management System (GIFMIS), awaiting translation into actual cash.

The inability to settle all debts underscores the financial challenges faced by WAEC and highlights the impact of government arrears on the operations of key institutions.

Despite these challenges, WAEC remains committed to conducting the BECE in accordance with its mandate, ensuring that students are able to take their examinations as scheduled.