Court rejects WAEC’s bid to withhold WASSCE results, orders immediate release

The Accra High Court has dismissed an application by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) seeking to delay the release of withheld West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results, marking a significant victory for affected students.

WAEC had withheld the results of approximately 10,000 candidates across multiple subjects, citing alleged examination malpractices and irregularities in its December 30, 2024, announcement.

However, following legal action by four students representing all affected candidates, the court ruled on January 30, 2025, that WAEC must release the results without any prejudicial footnotes.

Presiding judge Justice Ali Baba Abature, during a hearing on February 20, 2025, dismissed WAEC’S request for a stay of execution, ruling that the examination body failed to provide sufficient justification for withholding the results.

The court upheld its earlier stance that WAEC’S justification was ambiguous and inconsistent, further stating that keeping the results indefinitely could hinder the academic and professional progress of the students.

As a further blow to WAEC, the court imposed a GHS 5,000 fine on the examination body.

This ruling is seen as a major relief for students who had been left in limbo, uncertain about their academic futures. Many of them had applied for university admissions and job opportunities, both of which were at risk due to the delays caused by WAEC’s decision.

With the dismissal of WAEC’s appeal, the examination body is now expected to comply with the ruling and release the results immediately, ensuring that the affected students can proceed with their educational and career aspirations.