Four Teachers Jailed, Two Fined by Berekum District Court Over 2025 BECE Exam Malpractice.
Berekum District Court Jails Four Teachers, Fines Two for Exam Malpractice in 2025 BECE Cases.
These landmark rulings underscore the court’s resolute dedication to preserving the integrity and credibility of the nation’s examination processes. By imposing strict penalties on those found guilty, the court sends a clear message that any attempt to compromise the fairness of public examinations will be met with uncompromising legal consequences. This stance not only upholds the sanctity of the educational system but also serves as a strong deterrent to discourage future misconduct
Several teachers and invigilators were brought before the court after being caught with live examination materials or attempting to leak them during the exams. Below is a breakdown of the individuals involved and the outcomes of their respective cases:
1. Samuel Ofosu
Samuel Ofosu, a former invigilator at All For Christ Junior High School, was caught in possession of live Social Studies examination questions on his mobile phone. Upon admitting his guilt and expressing remorse, the court imposed a fine of 100 penalty units, equivalent to GH₵1,200.
2. Nathaniel Sakyi
Nathaniel Sakyi, who also served as an invigilator at All For Christ Junior High School, was charged with similar offenses. Acknowledging his wrongdoing and expressing regret, he was fined 100 penalty units, amounting to GH₵1,200—the identical penalty imposed on Samuel Ofosu.
3. Dominic Adanga
Dominic Adanga, former Assistant Supervisor and teacher at Berekum Methodist JHS, was convicted of stealing live Integrated Science question papers from the exam storage. Upon admitting his guilt, he was sentenced to six months in prison and fined 100 penalty units (GH₵1,200).
4. Evans Oteng
A government teacher at Jamdede JHS, Oteng was caught with a phone in the examination room containing live Social Studies questions. He had also shared Computing questions through WhatsApp and attempted to photograph live Asante Twi questions. He was fined 200 penalty units (GH₵2,400) and sentenced to eight months in prison.
5. Mr. Jones Yeboah
Serving as an invigilator and government teacher at Berekum Freeman Methodist ‘B’ JHS, Yeboah was caught using a mobile phone to photograph question papers inside the examination hall. His actions earned him the same penalty as Oteng: a fine of 200 penalty units (GH₵2,400) and eight months imprisonment.
6. Mr. Francis Amoah
A private teacher at All For Christ JHS, Amoah was arrested with two mobile phones and printed Mathematics questions containing worked solutions during the examination. The court sentenced him to three months imprisonment and fined him 200 penalty units (GH₵2,400).
These verdicts have prompted renewed calls for stricter legislation to criminalize examination malpractice, especially when carried out by professionals entrusted with safeguarding the process. Festus Long Matey, Head of Programmes at the Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition (GNECC), emphasized the importance of enforcing the law against offenders, stressing that the credibility of the education system is at stake.
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has also reiterated its commitment to ensuring fairness and integrity in the BECE. WAEC has pledged to thoroughly investigate all reported incidents and apply appropriate sanctions as outlined in its examination regulations.
As stakeholders continue to push for reform, these cases serve as a clear reminder that the responsibility for maintaining the integrity of examinations lies not only with the students but also with the adults tasked with guiding them.
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