The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has voiced its disappointment following the government’s release of GH¢25 million cedis to offset part of the GH¢118 million debt owed to the Council.
According to WAEC, the funds are insufficient to address the financial constraints affecting its operations, particularly the release of the delayed 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results.
Speaking to the media, WAEC’s Head of Public Relations, John Kapi, described the payment as “a drop in the ocean,” highlighting the pressing financial needs that remain unmet.
“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,” he said.
Kapi explained that the entire amount of GH¢25 million would likely be used to settle outstanding payments to technicians, leaving other critical operations unfunded.
The delay in releasing the 2024 WASSCE results has sparked widespread concern among students, parents, and educational institutions. Many stakeholders fear the prolonged delay could disrupt academic schedules and university admissions processes.
WAEC’s financial difficulties have been a recurring issue, with the Council repeatedly calling on the government to fulfil its financial obligations.
As the situation unfolds, calls for a swift resolution to WAEC’s funding challenges are intensifying, as the delay threatens to undermine the integrity of the educational system and the future of thousands of students awaiting their results.