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2026 BECE: Methodist Bishop urges stakeholders’ support to stem malpractices
The Right Reverend Kwaku Effah, the Methodist Bishop of the Sunyani Diocese, has called for stakeholders’ contribution to stem examination malpractices in the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), which begins on Monday, May 4, 2026.
He said stakeholders’ support was required for incident free as well as fair and credible BECE, adding that examination malpractices threatened the moral integrity of the nation.
Rt. Rev. Effah made the call when addressing the 47th Annual Diocesan Synod in Sunyani. The synod was on the theme: ‘Walking in the word: Equipped for every good work,’ based on 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
The Methodist Bishop noted that education ought to go beyond academic performance, instilling moral values that would shape the character of the young people.
He advised adviced that, “The child has to learn hard, prepare well, and must be able to produce good results after school based on their own efforts”, cautioning the candidates to eschew all forms of malpractices, urging them to be confident.
Rt. Rev. Effah warned the candidates against the temptation of sending foreign materials to the exam halls and urged them to be studious.
“The brain is such that whatever you learn, after reflection, it will come back to help you produce the answers,” he stated, and urged the candidates to also respect authorities and strictly abide by examination rules and regulations to avoid sanctions.
He condemned the bad practice of some families who tried to compromise the integrity of the BECE by bribing invigilators to aid the candidates or buy question papers for them.
Rt. Rev. Effah indicated that teachers, invigilators, parents and everybody had a role to play in ending examination malpractices.
He called on the West African Examination Council (WAEC), the Ghana Education Service (GES), and security agencies to intensify monitoring at the various examination centres.
Rt. Rev. Effah also urged faith-based organisations to be persistent in prayer for the candidates.
He encouraged the candidates to learn hard, saying that prayer without preparation and integrity would not yield the right results. –GNA
Medical Doctor and dietician, Dr Bernice Korkor Asare, has urged women to take greater responsibility for their lifestyle choices, particularly their eating habits and levels of physical activity, to help reduce their risk of developing breast cancer.
According to her, although, some breast cancer risk factors, such as family history and certain reproductive factors, may not be within an individual’s control, lifestyle choices offer an opportunity for people to take preventive action.
She made this known during a talk on the topic: “Role of diet in breast cancer prevention” organised by Times Ladies Association of the New Times Corporation, publishers of The Ghanaian Times and The Spectator, in Accra on Thursday.
The event themed “Breast Cancer Awareness- Promoting Early Detection, Healthy Eating and Prevention.” 
She noted that having a risk factor did not automatically mean a person would develop breast cancer, but could increase the likelihood of developing the disease compared with someone without that particular risk factor.
“Having close relatives who have had breast cancer, particularly a mother, sister or daughter, may increase the risk, although not everyone with a family history will develop the disease,” Dr Asare opined. Read More.
By Adizatu K. Munkaila
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A group of compassionate friends from Innovation Gospel Impact last Friday visited the management, teachers and learners of the Street Academy in Accra.
The visit was to interact to get a deeper insight into the operations of the Academy that houses hundreds of street and underprivileged children and find ways to support them.
The team was led by Rev. Dr Isaac Apenteng Yeboah, a former Director for West African Mailbox Club and Director for Prisons Support Foundation, and Rev. Dale Sutherland from Washington DC.
The call, according to the visitors was occasioned by reports about the struggles of the Academy despite the occasional support it enjoys from individuals and some corporate entities.
Briefing them, the Founder and Executive Director of the Academy, Dr Ataa Lartey, thanked them for the concern showed, indicating that “this is a major boost for both teachers and learners; knowing that their plight is known by people outside their premises.”
According Dr Lartey, the Academy had planned to undertake a number of project to enhance teaching and learning and also procure facilities for the children with keen interest in sports but had to shelve those plans for lack of finance.
He told the team that their biggest concerns were the monthly utility bills that takes a toll on their finances.
“We have a piece of land we planned to turn into an astro turf pitch to train the younger ones whose interests lies in making a career out of football, however, we have been unable to commence because there is no money now,” he said.
Dr Lartey expressed gratitude to the teachers who have dedicated their lives to training these children, rather than going for well-paying jobs and hoped that with time, their conditions of engagement would improve.
Moved by the plight of the Academy, the group donated a cash amount of Gh₵3,000 to settle its water bills.
They described as unfortunate the conditions of learners and teachers of the Academy and pledged to continuously support their operations to realize the dream to build a better future for the unfortunate children.
The group offered to support the school with its monthly utility bills, feeding and staff allowance and urged the Academy staff to remain in constant touch with them.
The Street Academy is located at the Accra Art Center and offers brilliant but needy the chance to pursue their educational dreams by enrolling them in public schools with others offered training in sports and cultural activities.
By Spectator Reporter
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