Editorial
A second look at examination malpractices
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Dear Editor
A revelation from a recent study that cheating or examination malpractices is on the rise is quite worrying.
The study which covered the periods from 2021 and 2023 showed a massive a two per cent increase from 2021 to 10 per cent in 2023.
What is even more alarming is the number of students involved in the act.
According to the report, the over 10,000 students that engaged in the act rose to close to 45,000 in 2023 and identified collusion, bringing of foreign materials and mobile phones into examination halls and impersonation as some of the common forms of malpractice.
This is a menace the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) has made a lot of noise about not just in the media but through several interactive platforms.
Years in and out, several papers from venues where those suspicions arose have had their papers cancelled and a few arrested and prosecuted. All of this is to serve as a deterrent to others.
But if the problem persists after all of these, then it means there may be something wrong somewhere that the authorities have not averred their minds to.
Much as the authorities identify ways to curb the aforementioned mode of operation, the Ghana Education Service (GES) should also intensify its supervision on the preparations of the school children for the exams.
Considering the numbers involved in the act against the overall numbers registered, they still form a minority of children who may be ill prepared for the exams.
The GES officials from its monitory department should pay unexpected visits to the schools and observe at first hand the kind of preparation the children are given.
After that, we’ll be in a better position to know what actually the problem with the children is.
Samuel Ofoli Kwei,
Asylum Down-Accra
Dear Editor,
I want to use this platform to create awareness on the growing safety challenge at some of our beaches, particularly the lack of adequate safety measures to prevent accidents.
Beaches are important recreational spaces that also contribute significantly to Ghana’s tourism industry. However, many beaches lack trained lifeguards, emergency equipment and proper supervision.
During weekends, holidays and sometimes weekdays, families visit these beaches to have fun and some, for relaxing, yet the necessary safety measures are often inadequate.
The situation becomes even more worrying when children and inexperienced swimmers enter the water without proper guidance; it can quickly turn a day meant for enjoyment into a tragedy for families.
I urge beach operators and local authorities to strengthen safety measures at our beaches, make trained lifeguards available at busy beaches, warning signs clearly displayed and emergency responses system established.
Public education is equally important as well. Visitors must be encouraged to obey safety instructions, avoid dangerous places and remain vigilant especially when children are around.
Ghana has beautiful beaches with enormous potentials that attract both local and international tourists, but we cannot promote beach tourism effectively whiles neglecting the safety of the people who visit these places.
I hope the authorities will treat beach safety as a national priority before it cause any tragedy.
From Elvis Amoako
Teshie-Nungua.
Dear Editor,
In Ghana, it appears that the moment a prominent politician is arrested or convicted, we fail to ask of the person’s offence but rather think of the person’s political affiliation.
Taking the recent 20-year imprisonment handed to New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti regional chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi has once again exposed this troubling culture.
An Accra high court convicted him on illegal-mining related charges and sentenced him to 20 years in prison. The NPP has since announced its intention to appeal the conviction.
What concerns me is not whether one belongs to the NPP or the NDC, what concern me is our growing tendency to attach a political identity to every arrest, investigation or court judgment. If an NPP member is arrested, some immediately say the NDC government is targeting the opposition. If an NDC member faces legal trouble the same argument will easily be reversed when political circumstances change.
We must ask ourselves; Are we defending justice or are we simply depending on our political colours? Political affiliation should never determine whether we believe a person deserves investigation, prosecution or a fair trial. If someone is accused of wrongdoing the proper institution must investigate, the court must determine guilt and the accused must have the right to challenge the decision through legal process.
Ghana cannot build a strong democracy if every criminal investigation becomes a political battle. Let us learn to separate politics from justice, a wrongdoing does not become right because the accused belong to your party and an accusation does not become true simply because the person belong to the opposing party.
Our loyalty should first be Ghana, the rule of the law and justice not to political colors.
From Desmond Yaw Frimpong
Pentecost University
