News
Over 80% of BECE candidates score above aggregate 30 — Prof. Duwieju
PROFESSOR Duwiejua Mahama, the Board Chairman of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), has expressed concern about the poor performance of Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates in the Sissala East and Sissala West Districts.
He noted that more than 80 per cent of students scored aggregate 30 and above, describing this as worrying.
Speaking at the 40th anniversary and graduation ceremony of the Tumu College of Education, Prof. Mahama urged the college to conduct a thorough study into the persistent low performances of Junior High School students in the two districts.
He highlighted that in the 2024 BECE results, no candidate in Sissala East obtained aggregates between seven and 10, while only one student scored between 11 and 15, representing less than one per cent of the 1,249 candidates presented.
He further disclosed that about 89 per cent of candidates in Sissala East scored an aggregate of 30 and above, describing the situation as discouraging.
In Sissala West, the trend was similar, with no candidate obtaining aggregates between seven and 15, while about 72 per cent scored 30 and above.
“Where are all these children going?” Prof. Mahama questioned, stressing that such results limited students’ access to quality second-cycle institutions and future opportunities.
He indicated that the problem was not limited to the two districts but reflected broader challenges confronting rural education across the region.
Prof. Mahama urged the Tumu College of Education, as it celebrates 40 years of teacher training, to take up the responsibility of researching the causes and proposing practical solutions to address the chronic underperformance in rural basic schools.
He noted that the college’s mandate to train competent teachers, particularly for rural communities, places it in a strategic position to help reverse the trend.
Prof. Mahama congratulated the graduating teachers but reminded them that they were inheriting not only a legacy of excellence but also the responsibility to improve learning outcomes in underserved communities.
He encouraged them to embrace perseverance, integrity, and commitment as they stepped into classrooms to help transform the educational fortunes of the Sissala area and beyond.
—GNA
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Executive Committee member and Volta River Authority (VRA) Board Member, Wonder Victor Kutor, has described calls for the resignation of Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa as premature and unjustified.
He argued that there was no evidence to establish that the minister had committed any wrongdoing to warrant such demands.
Speaking on Joy News in Accra on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, Mr Kutor questioned what had changed to justify the growing calls for the minister to step down.
He recalled that the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abu Jinapor, had earlier indicated that the opposition was not accusing Mr Ablakwa of any wrongdoing.
Mr Kutor, therefore, challenged those demanding the minister’s resignation to provide fresh evidence to support their position.
“The call for the Minister to resign is premature, it is untenable. There is no evidence. I mean, what has he done wrong?” he questioned.
He added that documents, including boarding passes, airline receipts and flight manifests relating to the minister’s return journey, had been provided.
Mr Kutor expressed concern that the calls for Mr Ablakwa’s resignation could discourage young politicians from speaking out against corruption and advocating transparency.
According to him, politicians should not be targeted or maligned for demanding accountability, warning that such treatment could create the impression that speaking against corruption could later become a liability when one is appointed to public office.
He maintained that calling for accountability and transparency should not be used as grounds to target public officials without evidence of wrongdoing.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana will host the Africa Festival of Arts, Culture and Creatives (AFESTAC) 2026 alongside Industrial Skills Week Africa (ISWA) 2026 in Accra from December 9 to 12, 2026.
On the back of these programmes, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has called on corporate Ghana, the media and the general public to support the initiative through partnerships, sponsorships and active participation.
The events, supported by the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), will bring together stakeholders to celebrate Africa’s rich cultural heritage, strengthen the creative economy, promote industrial skills development and create employment opportunities for young people.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
