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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
Muslims across the country celebrated this year’s Eid-ul-Adha in a colourful and spiritually uplifting atmosphere under the theme, “A Season of Sacrifice, Solidarity and Spiritual Renewal.”
The celebration brought together Muslims from diverse backgrounds in a remarkable display of faith, unity and cultural heritage.
The occasion was marked by special Eid prayers at various designated grounds, the slaughtering of rams in homes for sharing among family members, friends and the less privileged, as well as musical concerts and recreational activities including horse riding.
Leading the celebration was the Chief Imam, Dr Sheikh Osman Sharubutu.
While the national celebration was held at the Black Star Square where President John Dramani Mahama was the Special Guest of Honour, similar gatherings took place at different centres across the capital and other regions of the country.
A visit by The Spectator to some celebration grounds revealed Muslims, both young and old, elegantly dressed in colourful jalabiya and other Islamic attire, reflecting the rich culture and traditions of the Muslim community.
The celebration also portrayed the spirit of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence in the country, as a number of Christians joined their Muslim counterparts to mark the occasion.
Muslim leaders and government officials used the opportunity to call on the faithful to uphold the teachings of the Holy Quran, renew their spiritual commitment and refrain from acts capable of undermining the peace, unity and security of the nation.
They further urged Ghanaians to continue to live in harmony and support one another for national development.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
Dear Obaa Yaa,
During Eid-ul- Adha celebration, I decided to spend the weekend at my boyfriend’s place since we were planning towards our marriage.
To my surprise, what keeps me wide awake, restless and frustrated every single time is that he snores loudly like a generator running on full power, and I genuinely cannot get any rest
At a point, I thought it was just a normal thing, but I have realised it is something he does with ease and doesn’t see anything wrong with it.
When he steps out in the morning, I try to get enough sleep because I may not sleep in the evening.
The most annoying thing is that, he always wants to cuddle me. These two things are a no for me and a red flag.
We are about to get married, what should I do?
Enam, Keta.
Dear Enam,
The snoring and constant cuddling are frustrating, but you don’t have to choose between sleep and closeness.
Start with the snoring: check if it’s worse when he sleeps on his back, cut out alcohol before bed, try nasal strips or a humidifier, and see a doctor if he pauses while breathing.
For quick relief, foam earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones help a lot.
Separate blankets, a bigger bed, or sleeping apart on some nights often makes couples rest well and feel closer overall.
Bring this up before the wedding .Tell him you want to wake up next to him for years to come, but sleep deprivation makes you both miserable.
Test earplugs and side-sleeping this weekend, and if it’s still unbearable, bring in a doctor. Good sleep matters more for your marriage than staying glued together all night.
