BECE Malpractice Exposé Signals Corruption Creeping Into Schools – Julius Debrah

Chief of Staff Julius Debrah has cautioned that corruption is no longer restricted to state institutions but is steadily infiltrating Ghana’s schools, homes, and communities — a trend he describes as a serious threat to the nation’s future.

Speaking at the launch of a five-day stakeholder engagement in Accra to draft a new National Ethics and Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NEACAP 2026–2030), Mr. Debrah referenced the recent JoyNews GH Probe exposé on widespread examination malpractice in the 2025 BECE as evidence of growing ethical decay.

“Recent events, including the exam malpractice exposed by Joy FM, remind us that ethical decay is not confined to our institutions only. It is creeping into our homes, our schools, and our future,” he warned.

The Chief of Staff explained that while the previous NEACAP (2015–2024) offered useful lessons, it suffered from underfunding and weak political commitment. To avoid repeating such challenges, he said the new framework will be placed directly under the Office of the President for stronger oversight and prioritisation.

Mr. Debrah stressed that corruption prevention must be treated as a prerequisite for development rather than as a competing priority against health, education, or infrastructure.

“If we fail to protect our resources, we will never have enough to build schools, hospitals, and roads. We will never create decent jobs for our youth or realize the 24-hour economy we envision,” he stated.

He further underscored the need for ethics to form the backbone of the new plan, pledging government’s full support for its implementation.

“Ethics must be central to the new plan, not just as a policy but as a national culture,” he said. “Let me be clear, this government is committed to funding this national ethics and anti-corruption action plan, because fighting corruption is not a cost — it is an investment.”