The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) says nearly 30 invigilators and supervisors involved in examination malpractice during the ongoing 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) will be handed over to the police for prosecution.

According to WAEC, the suspects were picked up from various examination centres across the country following reports of irregularities and breaches of examination rules.

The arrests form part of intensified efforts by the examination body and the Ministry of Education to clamp down on cheating and protect the credibility of the BECE.

Reports indicate that some of the invigilators allegedly assisted candidates during the exams, smuggled mobile phones into examination halls, and in some cases attempted to leak examination questions through external platforms and AI tools.

Speaking on the development, WAEC officials stressed that individuals found culpable would face legal consequences.

Earlier this week, WAEC confirmed the arrest of several teachers in regions including Ashanti, Bono, Central and Eastern for various infractions linked to the ongoing examinations.

The Ministry of Education has also warned that any teacher, supervisor or candidate caught engaging in examination malpractice would be dealt with “ruthlessly.”

Authorities say strict monitoring systems, whistleblower reports and collaboration with security agencies have helped uncover the alleged malpractice cases.

Meanwhile, WAEC has urged candidates to rely on their preparation and avoid any form of cheating, cautioning that examination malpractice could lead to cancellation of results and possible prosecution.