The 72nd Annual Council Meeting of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) came to a successful close in Freetown, Sierra Leone, with the election of Prof. Thomas Brima Rick Yormah as the 21st Chairman of the Council. Prof. Yormah, a former Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Fourah Bay College and former Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sierra Leone, succeeds Prof. Ato Essuman from the Republic of Ghana.
In a press statement, e-signed and made available to GATMASH NEWS by Demianus G. Ojijeogu, anipr
Head, Public Affairs
WAEC Headquarters, Accra, Ghana, the meeting, held from Monday 18th to Friday 22nd March 2024, was inaugurated by His Excellency, Retired Brigadier (Dr.) Julius Maada Bio(GCRSL), President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, who was represented by Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh.
In his keynote address, President Maada Bio congratulated WAEC on its 72nd anniversary and praised the Council for its significant contributions to the educational development of the sub-region. He emphasized WAEC’s role as a beacon of excellence in promoting sub-regional cooperation and pledged continued support from his government for regional collaboration initiatives.
Hon. Conrad Sackey, Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Sierra Leone, commended WAEC for its enduring relevance over the past seven decades and urged stakeholders to collaborate in stamping out examination malpractice.
The Lord Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr (OBE), represented by Deputy Mayor Kweku Melvin Lisk, Esq., applauded WAEC’s achievements and called for enhanced collaboration between the Freetown City Council and WAEC to improve student performance in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
During the meeting, three Ghanaian candidates were honoured with the WAEC International Excellence Award for outstanding performance in the WASSCE for School Candidates, 2023. Additionally, the Augustus Bandele Oyediran Award for the Best Candidate in West Africa, 2023, was presented to a Ghanaian candidate. Two candidates from Sierra Leone were also recognized with national awards.
Furthermore, Prof. Jonas A.S. Redwood-Sawyerr was honoured as a Distinguished Friend of Council for his contributions to WAEC’s objectives. Prof. Yatta Kanu of Sierra Leone was elected Vice Chairman of Council for a one-year tenure.
Council, WAEC’s governing board, meets annually in rotation among its member countries. The 71st meeting was hosted in Banjul, The Gambia, and the 73rd meeting will be hosted by Liberia in March 2025.
At the meeting, delegates reviewed WAEC’s operations, educational programs, and developments in member countries. They emphasized the importance of collaboration in disseminating research reports for educational improvement.
In his closing remarks, outgoing Chairman Prof. Ato Essuman commended member countries for their dedication to WAEC’s success and expressed gratitude for their support throughout his tenure.
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