WAEC Releases 2026 BECE Results as Thousands Face Malpractice Sanctions

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has released the provisional results of the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), with more than 620,000 candidates receiving their outcomes as the Council intensified its crackdown on examination malpractice through widespread sanctions and ongoing investigations.

The release marks a significant milestone in Ghana’s education calendar, providing the basis for placement into senior high schools while underscoring WAEC’s continued efforts to safeguard the credibility of the country’s public examination system.

A total of 620,243 candidates from 20,789 schools sat this year’s examination, comprising 304,415 males and 315,828 females. The examination was conducted at 2,237 centres nationwide, with special arrangements made for candidates requiring additional support, including those with visual impairments, hearing assessment needs and other test accommodation requirements.

WAEC reported that 3,601 registered candidates were absent during the examination.

The Council’s post-examination review also identified several cases of irregularities. Following investigations, the Final Awards and Examiners’ Appointment Committee approved the cancellation of the subject results of 496 candidates and the entire results of 105 candidates. It further withheld the subject results of 119 candidates and the entire results of 48 candidates pending further action.

In addition, the subject results of 2,722 candidates from 229 schools have been withheld for further scrutiny. WAEC said the investigations are expected to be concluded by August 31, 2026, after which the affected results will either be released or cancelled based on the findings.

Candidates whose results have been withheld or cancelled have been directed to WAEC’s irregularity portal to determine the reasons for the sanctions and obtain guidance on the next steps. School authorities can also monitor the status of affected candidates through the Council’s official results management platform.

The Council warned the public against fraudsters claiming they can alter or upgrade examination results in exchange for money, stressing that WAEC’s results are securely protected and fully verifiable.

Beyond the release of the results, the scale of the malpractice sanctions reinforces WAEC’s determination to strengthen confidence in Ghana’s examination system. For policymakers, schools and tertiary institutions, maintaining the integrity of national assessments remains critical to preserving the value of academic qualifications and ensuring that admissions and future workforce development are based on merit.

WAEC also acknowledged the contributions of the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service, security agencies, heads of schools, supervisors, invigilators and examiners for supporting the successful conduct of the 2026 BECE and the timely release of the results.