Editorial
Wishing all BECE candidates success in their examination
Come Monday, September 14, 2020 this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) will start nationwide in all the 16 regions of Ghana and is expected to end on Friday, September 18, 2020.
According to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), a total of 531,705 candidates comprising 269,419 males and 262,286 females from 17,440 schools across the country are to sit for the BECE.
So far, 2,007 centres have been designated for the conduct of the examination.
Over the years WAEC has been warning candidates against examination malpractices but some recalcitrant candidates refuse to heed this advice as they relied on people who provide leaked papers instead of using their own efforts to write their examination.
It has, therefore, become necessary to keep reminding candidates of the dangers associated with engaging in examination malpractices to keep them on check.
Addressing journalists at a news conference in Accra Mrs Wendy Addy-Lamptey, Head of National Office of WAEC urged candidates to apply themselves to their books ahead of the examination and cautioned schools, parents, teachers and invigilators not to engage in acts that would amount to cheating.
Mrs Addy-Lamptey has assured that all logistics and test items needed for the examination were ready and “all question papers have been produced under tight security under the surveillance of the Ghana Police Service and WAEC.”
The Spectator wishes to add its voice to that of WAEC by advising candidates to abide by all the rules from WAEC for the examination to run smoothly to the end. Do not cheat and avoid taking any foreign material to the examination hall. Stay away from illicit assistance popularly known as “apor” and be honest to yourself.
Bear in mind that you have come this far despite the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic and to do something untoward which would warrant the cancellation of papers is not the best.
We are confident that your hard work and adequate preparation towards the examination, coupled with support from your teachers, parents, the government through the Ghana Education Service (GES) and Ministry of Education (MoE) will go a long way for you to come out successfully.
Remember that examination malpractice is illegal and criminal. You have worked so hard so do not allow anybody to mar your future. Take care and abide by all the safety protocols.
We wish you success in your examination.
Dear Editor,
It is often said that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. However, this saying becomes worrying when the health of citizens is threatened by the conditions under which the food they consume daily is sold.
In Ghana, the conditions under which food is sold is quite disturbing. Over the years, I have observed that the environments where food is prepared and sold are often unhygienic.
In many cases, containers holding food such as rice and waakye are left uncovered or not properly covered, exposing them to contamination.
While many Ghanaians paid little attention in the past to the conditions under which food was sold, the narrative seems to be changing in recent years.
I recall an incident during my days in Senior High School (S.H.S.) when my friends and I went out to buy food. At one location, some of us chose not to buy because we assumed the food would be expensive due to how neat the place looked.
Unfortunately, we ended up purchasing food from a different place that was somewhat unhygienic. We overlooked the poor conditions because we believed the quantity offered was better than at the cleaner location.
However, I am certain that my friends and I would not repeat such a mistake today, as we now understand the health implications of that decision.
While public education is important in addressing this issue, I believe it is time for regulatory and law enforcement agencies, such as the Food and Drug Authority (FDA), to crack the whip on food sellers and vendors who operate in unhygienic environments and conditions.
As citizens, we must also be mindful of where we buy our food to protect ourselves and our families from diseases and illnesses. We should choose ‘quality’ over ‘quantity’ and prioritize our health.
From Syram
Oyarifa
Dear Editor,
I write to express concern and call for improved security measures before and after every football match.
The recent robbery attack that led to the tragic death of a player, on their return from a Match day 29 game against Samartex, is both shocking and heartbreaking.
The incident, which reportedly occurred around 10:30 p.m., highlights the growing risks faced by players and team officials while traveling.
Football is meant to unite and entertain, not to expose lives to danger. It is therefore imperative that authorities, the Ghana Football Association, and security agencies put in place adequate protection for teams, especially during late-night travels.
I strongly urge all stakeholders to treat this matter with urgency to prevent such unfortunate incidents from recurring.
From Eugene Ampiaw
Accra
