The government of Ghana has reportedly settled a significant portion of the debt owed to the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC), addressing concerns about the upcoming Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
WAEC had raised alarm over the possibility of postponing the BECE due to financial constraints.
According to WAEC’s Director of Public Affairs, John Kapi, the council required about GH₵90 million to conduct the exams. While the exam papers had been printed, there were insufficient funds to distribute them and send WAEC officials to monitor the exams, potentially leading to a postponement.
In response to this issue, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Bole Bamboi, Yusif Sulemana, urged the Education Minister to prioritize clearing the debt to ensure the smooth conduct of the BECE.
However, the Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, clarified in Parliament that a significant portion of the debt, amounting to GH₵80 million, had been released. He stated that he had received confirmation from the Minister of State, Abena Osei-Asare, regarding the release of funds.
Contrary to these claims, the Minority Chief Whip, Kwame Governs Agbodza, challenged the assertion, stating that the NDC Minority caucus was not aware of such a payment.
He noted that while the Minister of State had mentioned a payment of 40 million cedis, the total amount owed to WAEC for the BECE was 93 million cedis.
“We are told an amount of 80 million has been released… so please, the matter has been dealt with,” he said.
“On this paper that she gave us the copy, what is owed WAEC for BECE is 93 million Ghana Cedis. If you pay even 40 million, you are almost half way so I’m not aware she said 80 million.
“If they paid him 80 million fine, because I saw her insisting they paid 40 million and it’s the total amount of money,” he said.
The issue highlights the importance of timely payment of debts to ensure the smooth functioning of essential services such as education.
The conflicting reports indicate the need for transparency and clear communication between government officials and stakeholders to address financial challenges effectively.