Sackey Explains 2026 WASSCE Results Delay, Says Government Saved US$1.37 Million
Kanja Sesay Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Conrad Sackey, has explained the delay in the official announcement of the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results, citing widespread examination irregularities, ongoing investigations and verification procedures by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).
In a public statement shared on social media on Saturday, October 24, 2026, the Minister addressed growing concerns among students, parents and teachers over the absence of the usual official announcement of the examination results.
Sackey acknowledged the anxiety over the delay and assured the public that the government remains committed to releasing the results after the necessary verification processes.
According to the Minister, one major reason for the delay is the large number of examination results WAEC has withheld over suspected malpractice.
He disclosed that results involving thousands of candidates and 169 schools have been withheld pending investigations into alleged examination irregularities.
The suspected violations include collusion among candidates, the use of unauthorised materials and possession of mobile phones in examination halls.
Sackey explained that WAEC’s investigations are still ongoing, making it necessary for the examination body to complete its review before the official announcement.
The allegations remain subject to investigation, and the withholding of results does not automatically establish wrongdoing by every affected candidate or school.
The education minister also addressed misinformation circulating on social media and some radio stations concerning the expected release date.
According to Sackey, a document claiming that the 2026 WASSCE results would be released on September 25 was falsely presented as a current government announcement.
He clarified that the document originated in 2025 and had no connection to the 2026 examination results.
“That document is from 2025 (Ref No. MoBSE/PR/2025/001 dated September 12, 2025). It was for 2025 results. This fake news has created confusion and delayed public communication,” Sackey explained.
The Minister urged the public to rely on official information from the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education and WAEC rather than unverified announcements circulating online.
Beyond the malpractice investigations, Sackey said WAEC is undertaking additional technical and verification procedures to ensure the authenticity of examination results.
These processes include checking examination records and verifying results through QR-code authentication systems.
According to the Minister, the verification exercise is intended to protect the integrity of the examination process and ensure that candidates who completed their examinations honestly are treated fairly.
He emphasised that the government recognises the importance of timely results, particularly for students preparing to pursue higher education and other opportunities.
However, he maintained that accuracy and credibility must remain central to the process.
Sackey also highlighted the government’s financial commitment to supporting candidates sitting the 2026 WASSCE.
He disclosed that the government verified and fully paid examination fees for 163,997 eligible candidates.
According to the Minister, the intervention reflects the government’s commitment to expanding educational opportunities and reducing the financial burden on families.
He explained that the payment followed a verification exercise designed to ensure that public funds were used to support genuine and eligible candidates.
The Minister further revealed that a data-cleaning exercise uncovered significant irregularities in the examination registration process.
According to Sackey, schools initially uploaded 219,171 candidate records for the 2026 WASSCE.
However, a verification exercise flagged 55,174 entries over issues including duplicate registrations, questionable Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) records and inaccurate personal information.
Following the exercise, the government confirmed 163,997 candidates as eligible for examination fee payments.
Sackey stated that removing the flagged entries from the payment list saved the government more than US$1.37 million.
He said the savings would be redirected towards improving schools and providing learning materials.
While the Minister described the irregularities as evidence of corruption within the registration process, the available statement does not establish that every flagged record involved deliberate fraud.
The education minister concluded by appealing to students, parents, teachers and school authorities to remain patient while WAEC completes the outstanding processes.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting the credibility of Sierra Leone’s examination system and ensuring that genuine candidates are not unfairly disadvantaged.
The delay has generated concern among candidates awaiting their results to make decisions about university admission and other educational opportunities.
However, no confirmed date for the official announcement of the 2026 WASSCE results was provided in the Minister’s statement.
As WAEC continues its investigations and verification procedures, students and parents are being encouraged to follow official communication channels for accurate updates.
The Ministry maintains that the objective is to ensure the eventual release of credible and properly verified results while safeguarding the interests of candidates who complied with examination regulations.