Final-year senior high school (SHS) students in Ghana will tomorrow join their counterparts across West Africa to begin the May–June 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates, starting with Oral English.
According to statistics from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), a total of 509,862 candidates will sit for this year’s examination nationwide. The figure comprises 225,274 males and 284,588 females.
The 2026 WASSCE began earlier with practical and project work for subjects such as Visual Arts and Home Economics. However, all candidates are expected to take part in tomorrow’s Oral English paper, which Ghanaian candidates have written separately over the past five years.
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the traditional examination calendar in 2020, forcing WAEC member countries to shift the exams from the usual May–June period to July 20 through September 5. In 2021, the examination was held from August 16 to October 8.
Following those disruptions, member countries including Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone and The Gambia worked to realign their academic calendars and return the WASSCE to its regular May–June schedule.
Regionally, the Ashanti Region recorded the highest number of candidates with 127,702 students, made up of 57,885 males and 69,817 females.
The Eastern Region follows with 70,099 candidates, while the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo regions recorded a combined total of 67,739 candidates.
The Central Region has 61,303 candidates, while Greater Accra recorded 48,099 candidates, comprising 22,418 males and 25,681 females.
The Volta Region has 41,622 candidates, while Oti Region and Western North together recorded 35,620 candidates.
The Northern, North East and Savannah regions recorded a combined 33,155 candidates. The Upper East Region has 15,192 candidates, while the Upper West Region recorded 9,249 candidates.
Source: graphic.com.gh
