Students from Ghana dominated the top spots in the 2023 May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), with the top three candidates all hailing from Ghana. The examination, conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), encompassed all final year secondary school students in its five member countries: Ghana, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Liberia, and Nigeria.

Out of the total 2,327,342 students who participated in the exam, Nigeria alone presented 1,613,733 candidates, accounting for over 70 percent of the total candidates. Remarkably, the top three students from Ghana, who achieved the best results, are all male, with two of them coming from the same school, St James Seminary Senior High School (SHS).

The top three Ghanaian students, Amo-Kodieh Leonard Kofi (1st Prize), Dzandu Selorm (2nd Prize), and Asenso-Gyambibi Daniel (3rd Prize), were unveiled at the 72nd Annual General Meeting of the council in Freetown, Sierra Leone. They were honored with the WAEC International Excellence Award for their exceptional performance in the sub-regional exam.

Additionally, the Augustus Bandele Oyediran Award for the best candidate in the exam was awarded to the overall best performer, Ghanaian Amo-Kodieh Leonard Kofi. Two candidates from Sierra Leone, Mammah Raymonda and Bangura Joshua, received the National Distinction award (1st and 2nd place, respectively), while Fillie Sahr Edward was awarded the National Merit Award.

Mr. Demianus Ojijeogu, the head of public affairs of WAEC International, announced these results in a statement released to the press in Nigeria. He also revealed that Prof. Thomas Brima Rick Yormah, the former Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Fourah Bay College and former Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sierra Leone, had been elected as the 21st Chairman of the organization, succeeding Prof. Ato Essuman from Ghana.

During the meeting, which was declared open by President of Sierra Leone, Retired Brigadier Julius Maada Bio (represented by Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh), WAEC was commended for its high-ranking status among global examining bodies. The Sierra Leonean government pledged continued cooperation and collaboration with WAEC in areas of mutual benefit. The annual council meeting serves as a platform for rational discourse among the five-member countries.