GHS25m inadequate to pay bills – WAEC tells Gov’t

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has registered its disappointment over the GH¢25 million recently released by the government as a part settlement of the GH¢118 million debt owed to the Council, calling it inadequate.

According to WAEC, the funds, which it described as “a drop in the ocean”, are insufficient to enable the timely completion of post-examination processes and the release of the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results, which is in limbo due to the government’s indebtedness.

According to the Head of Public Relations at the West African Examination Council, Mr. John Kapi, the Ghc 25million provided by the government is not enough to cover even half of the post-examination processes as the Council already owes its technicians an equivalent of the said amount, adding that the Council will go back to knocking on the door of government after settling its technicians.

“Obviously, that [the GH¢25 million] was just a drop in the ocean as far as the amount of money required for the job we are supposed to do is concerned. We indicated to the minister earlier that we owed our technicians GH¢25 million, which we had to pay before they even started to work on the machines. Besides, there are other operations that we have to do.

“Obviously, it is inadequate. If we decide to invite the technicians today or even tomorrow, all they are going to ask for is the outstanding payment. And so all of that GH¢25 million will go”, he said.
Meanwhile WAEC announced on Friday, December 20, that the Council was making arrangements to release the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results of private candidates while awaiting government’s intervention in processing results for public school candidates.

The delayed release of the WASSCE results has caused significant concern among stakeholders, including students, parents, and educational institutions, as the financial challenges facing WAEC continue to impede its operations.

Story: Novire Kuuyizie Francis