The head of Public Relations for the West African Examination Council (WAEC), John Kapi, has debunked claims by the Majority Chief Whip that government has released GHC80m to the Council to conduct the 2024 BECE.
Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, had revealed in Parliament Friday, June 21, 2024, that an amount of 80million Ghana Cedis has been released by the Finance Ministry to the WAEC for the conduct of the 2024 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
He made the disclosure after the Member of Parliament for Bole-Bamboi, Yusif Sulemana, raised concerns on the floor of Parliament about the government’s indebtedness to the WAEC.
Uncertainty was hanging over the 2024 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) as the examining body, WAEC, was waiting to recoup almost 98 per cent of GH¢95.83 million it needs to organise the examination
WAEC was reported to have received just about GH¢2.3 million out of GH¢95.83 million required to successfully facilitate the exam.
But the Council insisted it would require not less than 50 per cent of the total amount to enable it conduct the examination and a further release of more funds for the processing and releasing of results.
The examination is scheduled to commence on Monday, July 8 and end on Monday, July 15, 2024, at all centres across the country.
Head of Public Relations for WAEC, John Kapi, is reported to have said earlier that even though some GH¢6 million had been processed through the Government Integrated Financial Management System (GIFMIS), it was yet to be translated into real cash.
Members of the Minority in Parliament had cause to raise the matter on the floor on Friday, June 21, as government sought to take the National Service Authority bill under a certificate of urgency.
n response, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, the Majority Chief Whip, noted that significant releases have been made by the government to that effect.
“When this morning we came to the chamber, the Ranking Member raised the matter. I followed up with a call together with the Minority Chief Whip to the Minister of State responsible for Finance. We are told an amount of 80 million cedis has been released to WAEC,” he disclosed
But speaking on Hot Edition on 3FM Friday, Mr. Kapi noted that the sum the Council has received from the government is GHC47m and not GHC80 as communicated by the Majority Chief Whip.
“We have received GHC47.12 million from government and not GHC80 million as the MP claims,” he revealed
