Again, Ghana beats Nigeria, others in WASSCE

Three students from Ghana, all females, have come first, second and third best candidates in the 2017 May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE), beating their counterparts from Nigeria, Gambia, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

They are Miss Jochebed Adwoa Sutherland (1st Prize), Miss Audrey Emefa Awuttey (2nd Prize) and Miss Rachel Amaning Kwarteng (3rd Prize).

The trio were unveiled and rewarded for their outstanding performances with WAEC International Excellence Awards at the just concluded 66th annual meeting of the organisation in Banjul, Gambia.

A total of 1,909,088 candidates from across the five-member countries sat for the examination, in which Nigeria presented a total 1,559,162 (representing 81.67 per cent) of the figure.

The Head of Public Affairs, WAEC International, Accra, Mr Biodun Aduloju, made the disclosure in a press release to newsmen in Nigeria.

He noted that even the Augustus Bandele Oyediran Award for the overall best candidate in the examination also went to a Ghanaian, Jochebed Adwoa.

• WAEC, release these results

For their efforts, Adwoa won $800 as prize money, a full scholarship from Universal Merchant Bank, and a laptop.

The first runner-up, Awuttey received $600 as prize money from WAEC, GH¢15,000 from Bond Financial Services, and two laptops; while the second runner-up, Kwarteng, received $500 from WAEC, GH¢5,000 from First Bank, and a laptop.

They are all currently studying at the University of Ghana Medical School.

Nigerian Tribune recalls that with this development, Ghana has won the first prize of the award in the sub-region for the sixth time consecutively.

Also, Aduloju disclosed that the council had elected Mr Baboucar Bouy, a Gambian, as the 19th chairman of the sub-regional organisation to succeed Dr D. Evelyn Kandakai of Liberia.

He said the new WAEC’s helmsman, who was elected during the meeting, would serve for three years.