Ghana to Rejoin International WASSCE in 2026

Ghana will return to the May-June West African Senior School Certificate Examination for School Candidates (WASSCE-SC) in 2026, ending five years of using a Ghana-only examination schedule, the Ghana Education Service (GES) has announced.

Professor Ernest Kofi Davis, Director-General of GES, confirmed that Ghana will join four other West African countries in sitting the examination under a common timetable, marking a return to the pre-pandemic academic calendar disrupted by COVID-19.

“Yes, we are returning to the international exams, so we are writing May-June with the other West African countries,” Prof. Davis emphasized.

Preparations for the transition began in 2025, with schools across the country already informed to prepare candidates for practicals and project works starting in April 2026. Prof. Davis expressed optimism about Ghana’s performance, encouraging students to work diligently and place among the top three in the sub-region.

He also cautioned against examination malpractice, stressing that credible results are essential for evaluating the effectiveness of the nation’s education system.

The shift aligns Ghana with the standard WASSCE calendar followed by countries such as Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia, which reverted to the original May-June schedule after COVID-19 disruptions.

This move marks a significant step in harmonizing Ghana’s education system with regional standards and providing students with a seamless platform for academic recognition across West Africa.