2026 WASSCE Results: 47,454 Withheld Over Suspected Malpractice

The results of 47,454 candidates in the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) have been withheld over suspected examination malpractice, according to the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education. The figure is more than three times the 13,237 withheld in 2025.

The Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Conrad Sackey, announced the results on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, after the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) submitted them to the ministry on Friday, 23 October. Of those withheld for suspected malpractice, 26,735 are female and 20,719 are male.

According to the ministry, 201,124 candidates from 1,043 schools registered for the examination, and results were made available for 200,756 candidates from 1,038 schools. Separately, the results of 368 candidates from five private schools were held back because the schools had not paid outstanding examination fees.

The ministry said the sharp rise in withheld results could reflect stricter monitoring and better detection, but that further investigation is needed to establish the causes. The suspected irregularities fall into 13 categories, including collusion, sharing answers inside examination rooms, and using social media or artificial intelligence to obtain and spread answers.

Officials stressed that a withheld result is not a finding of guilt. WAEC may release results where allegations are not proven, while candidates found responsible could have their results cancelled. The Chief Education Officer, the government's chief nominee to WAEC, is to work with the relevant committee to speed up investigations, and the ministry plans to involve three respected educationists as observers.

Minister Sackey warned that disciplinary action could extend to supervisors, invigilators, centre managers, principals and proprietors found to have helped malpractice. Repeat offenders among school authorities could be referred to the Anti-Corruption Commission, and government funds paid for ineligible candidates could be recovered. The ministry also plans to introduce a new WAEC Bill in 2027 to improve examination administration and provide legal sanctions for malpractice.

Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Abdul Kargbo, called on WAEC and the ministry to resolve the withheld results fairly and quickly so affected students do not miss university admission. In a press statement, he said that behind every withheld result was a young person with ambitions and a family that had made sacrifices for their education.

He urged the authorities to explain clearly why results were withheld, investigate promptly, and set a definite timeline. While backing the integrity of public examinations, he said sanctions should be imposed only on evidence and through fair procedures, and that withheld results should not automatically be treated as cancelled. He also asked the authorities to engage universities on flexible admission arrangements for affected candidates, warning that students cleared of wrongdoing should not lose an academic year because investigations ran past admission deadlines.

The examination also produced strong individual results. Alfred Farwell Thorpe of Sierra Leone Grammar School was the best-performing candidate, with six A1 grades, one B3 and one C4 in eight subjects, an average grade unit of 1.63. Syllawa Alie of Kamboi Lebanese Senior Secondary School in Kenema came second with an average of 1.75. Awada Senior Secondary School in Bo was named the best-performing school.

Nationally, 91,122 candidates obtained at least five credits in one sitting, although the reported percentage still needs to be reconciled with official figures. English Language remained a major weakness, with 63.33 per cent of candidates failing it, while 62.15 per cent obtained a credit or better in Mathematics. A total of 11,492 candidates were absent from all subjects.

Legal context: Under WAEC's rules, results can be withheld pending investigation and later released or cancelled. The proposed 2027 WAEC Bill would, according to the ministry, add specific legal sanctions against individuals and institutions involved in malpractice.