The founder of MountCrest University College and former Director of the Ghana School of Law, Mr. Kwaku Ansa-Asare, has issued a dire warning about the growing normalisation of examination malpractice in Ghana.
Speaking at the 8th congregation of MountCrest University College on Saturday, September 21, he stated that the canker of cheating is “taking centre stage” and requires urgent, concerted action to preserve the integrity of the nation’s educational system.
Mr. Ansa-Asare lamented a societal shift where students feel that cheating should be “honoured” and “recognised”, with the expectation that they will be assisted in their dishonest acts.
He expressed pride that the 137 graduates of MountCrest’s Faculty of Law and Health Sciences earned their degrees the hard way, without cheating.
“I am very, very, very pleased, and I feel very proud that a MountCrest degree is earned the hard way, and we can all bear testimony that you have earned your certification without cheating,” he said.
He challenged the new graduates to “hold yourselves with pride” and uphold the values of honesty and integrity instilled in them.
The former law school director’s comments come at a time when examination malpractice has become a significant concern across Ghana’s educational levels.
Barely a month ago, a JoyNews Hotline investigation led by GH Probe’s Francisca Enchil revealed how some officials of the Ghana Education Service (GES), alongside supervisors, headteachers and invigilators, transformed the sacred national exercise into an organised crime syndicate – trading academic integrity for financial gain.
Data from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) indicates a worrying trend.
In recent years, thousands of candidates have had their results withheld or cancelled due to irregularities.
A 2024 report by WAEC revealed that exam malpractice has “spread in the Ghana Education Service and threatens the integrity of education in Ghana.”
From 2021 to 2023, the number of candidates involved in examination malpractice reportedly rose from over 10,000 to 44,586.
The root causes of this systemic problem are multifaceted, ranging from parental pressure for high grades and a societal overemphasis on certificates rather than skills, to the leaking of examination questions by officials and inadequate supervision.
In 2025 alone, 177 candidates had their entire results for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) cancelled, with an additional 718 losing subject results due to malpractice. .
Mr. Ansa-Asare cautioned the graduates that the values they demonstrate will define their future roles as leaders. “Because one day, one of you may become an attorney-general, a chief justice or a president.
Therefore, the values we have inculcated in you must be observed at all times,” he stated.
He emphasised that a culture of honesty is fundamental to developing a competent and ethical workforce capable of driving national development and holding key public offices.