Ghana to revert from Ghana-only WASSCE to West African WASSCE in 2026
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has announced that Ghana will transition from its current Ghana-only version of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) to the full West African WASSCE starting in May/June 2026.
In an official statement, GES reminded students, parents, and schools nationwide of the impending change. The shift means Ghanaian candidates will once again sit the same WASSCE as their peers across West African member states under the administration of West African Examinations Council (WAEC).
GES emphasised that the transition demands increased readiness. They urged all stakeholders to intensify preparation and reassured the public that examination integrity will be upheld. According to the Service, there will be no relaxation in rules or assessment standards as Ghana realigns with the regional exam calendar.
The return to the regional exam format arrives amid national concern over the performance of the 2025 WASSCE, particularly in core subjects. GES leadership noted that the revised format is intended to align with regional standards while giving students the opportunity to compete fairly with peers across West Africa.
Stakeholders in the education sector have welcomed the decision, calling it a positive move that could help restore credibility and uniformity to Ghana’s examination system. Some, however, caution that resources, infrastructure, and exam-preparation capacity must be strengthened to ensure a smooth transition, especially in rural or under-resourced schools.
As Ghana prepares for the first full West African WASSCE since the pandemic-era modifications, GES has called on heads of schools, teachers, students, parents, civil society organisations and WAEC to collaborate closely to safeguard the integrity of the examination process while supporting learners to perform at their best.
