The deputy minister of education, Rev John Ntim Fordjour, has refuted claims that the government is owing the West African Examination Council (WAEC) some GHC21 million.
According to him, the reports churned out by the deputy ranking member on education from the minority side, Clement Apaak that this year’s WASSCE which is expected to commence in August might not take place are also false.
“Disregard what Dr. Apaak is saying, we have resourced WAEC. Government houses WAEC’s headquarters right here in Accra, and we have always been bringing our compatriots in the Gambia, Sierra Leonne, and Liberia. So, we will ensure that anything that WAEC needs, we will give to them.”
Rev John Ntim Fordjour
Describing the situation as a propaganda, Rev Ntim Fordjour revealed that every examination that the Ministry has scheduled with WAEC will come off. He further urged the public to disregard “any rumours that we are going to suspend or cancel any examination” that has been arranged.
“Every obligation has been met with WAEC, so every attempt that seeks to mar the relationship must be discredited.”
Rev John Ntim Fordjour
Speaking to the media after an inspection of one of the facilities of Buck Press, the deputy Minister of Education, noted that 50 percent of the monies budgeted for the printing of books and distribution were saved through prudent negotiations. He indicated that schools in some regions have already received their textbooks through local printing facilities contracted to distribute the stationery.
Allegations by minority on government owing WAEC
It will be recalled that the Minority in Parliament through the Ranking Member on the Education Committee, Clement Apaak, stated that the greatest problem facing the WAEC in the discharge of its mandate was the inadequate release of funds to the Council. He further claimed that government has failed to pay the body an amount of GHC21 million for conducting the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) hence such exams may not come off this year.
The Minority, through Dr Apaak, called on the government to as soon as possible clear the GHC21million it owes WAEC.
Prior to this, the Member of Parliament for Akatsi North, Peter Nortsu Kotoe, had earlier stated on Friday, July 15, 2022, that the situation has become dire as no money has been released to WAEC for the conduct of the 2022 WASSCE and BECE. He emphasized that WAEC immediately needs a total of GHC 96,694,432.40 to engage in a number of pre -examination activities, transportation, and allowances for examiners, supervisors, invigilators and depot-keepers.
Mr Nortsu Kotoe noted that it is disheartening to know that persons who supervised and invigilated the BECE for school candidates as well as script checkers for 2021 are yet to be paid the allowances due them.
He further reminded candidates of measures being put in place by WAEC to make sure that examination malpractices which include cheating, taking foreign documents and materials to the examination halls, as well as violence against supervisors and invigilators, are checked and stiff sanctions are brought to bear on all those who fall foul of the regulations.
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