Ghanaian students have once again demonstrated their academic prowess by clinching the top three spots in the 2024 May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). The annual exam, conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), saw participation from students across its five-member countries: Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia.
This year, a total of 2,455,063 candidates sat for the exam, with Nigeria presenting the majority—1,805,216 students, representing 73.53% of the total candidates. The school-based exam for the 2024 edition is set to commence on April 24, with Nigeria again expected to account for a significant portion of participants.
Interestingly, the top three candidates with the best results this year, just like in 2023, are all male students from Ghana. Each of them achieved straight ‘A1’ grades in all their subjects, securing them WAEC’s prestigious International Excellence Award. The winners are:
- David Nii Commey Ankrah – 1st Prize
- Henschel Tabi Frempong-Manso – 2nd Prize
- Benedict Ofori Debrah – 3rd Prize
These outstanding students were honored at the 73rd WAEC Annual General Meeting in Monrovia, Liberia. David, who also received the Augustus Bandele Oyediran Award for the overall best candidate in West Africa, was awarded $3,000 and a certificate of excellence. Henschel and Benedict received $1,200 and $900, respectively, along with their certificates.
WAEC also recognized Mrs. Hawah Sharon Goll-Kotchi from Liberia with the Distinguished Friend of Council Award for her exceptional contributions to the organization.
All three award-winning students are now pursuing higher education. David, 18, who scored an impressive T-Score of 605.0474, is studying Pharmacy at the University of Cape Coast. Henschel and Benedict are both enrolled at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, studying Engineering and Human Biology, respectively.
WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, Mr. Demianus Ojijeogu, highlighted that the council annually celebrates top-performing students across its member countries to encourage hard work, resilience, and healthy academic competition.
During the meeting, Liberia’s Chief Government Nominee, Amos Armah Fully, was elected as WAEC’s Vice Chairman for a one-year term, succeeding Mr. Edward Kpakra from Sierra Leone. The event was officially opened by Liberia’s President, Joseph Nyumah Boakai, who commended WAEC for its dedication to conducting credible examinations and issuing globally recognized certificates.
President Boakai urged WAEC to enhance its inclusiveness policies, particularly by improving accessibility for students with special needs. “This is important,” he stated, “to create equal opportunities for all students to acquire knowledge and skills and also earn academic certificates they desire.”
WAEC’s governing council holds its annual general meetings on a rotational basis among its five member countries. Last year’s edition took place in Sierra Leone, while Ghana is set to host the 2026 meeting.
Additionally, Dr. Romelle Alexzyn Horton, President of Cuttington University in Liberia, delivered the annual endowment fund lecture on the theme: “Digital Transformation in Education: To AI or Not to AI.”
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