The Upper West Regional Director of Education, Madam Alice Ellen Abeere-Inga, has issued a stern warning to educators in the Sissala West District, stating that any teacher found aiding in examination malpractice will face immediate dismissal.
The Director issued the caution during the Sissala West Best Teacher and Scholarship Awards Ceremony held on May 1, 2026. Her remarks come just ahead of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) scheduled to begin next week.
Addressing the gathering of stakeholders, teachers, and students, Madam Abeere-Inga expressed deep concern over the rising trend of academic dishonesty, which she described as a cancer eating into the education sector.
“Any teacher found involved with examination malpractice should be ready to face the rigours of the law, and if it means sacking them, we will do so,” she declared. She further noted that while the district has seen an increase in BECE performance, such success is only valuable if achieved through “natural means” rather than compromised standards.
The Regional Director also used the platform to appeal to traditional rulers, religious leaders, and political opinion leaders to support the Ghana Education Service (GES) in its staff rationalization efforts.
Acknowledging the teacher deficit reported by the Sissala West Education Director, she noted that while some schools are understaffed, others within the region maintain a surplus. She urged stakeholders to allow the directorate to redistribute teachers to deprived areas without local interference.
“If I try to rationalize these teachers, I hope the stakeholders will agree and allow us to work without interfering,” she stated, adding that a formal statement of support from the community leaders would be welcomed.
Turning her attention to the youth and parents, Madam Abeere-Inga lamented the growing desire for “quick money” among students. She emphasized that the significant investments being made in education, including the free SHS policy, are intended for the children’s future.
“To the parents, invest in your child’s education. There is free education, but you still have a role to play,” she said. She warned that if parents do not partner with teachers to groom children at home,the youth may turn to social vices, including robbery and violence.
While maintaining a firm tone on discipline, the Director congratulated the award winners, challenging them to replicate their excellence in the classroom. She announced that the portal for the National Teacher Prize would soon be open and challenged the local awardees to compete at the national level to bring honor to the Upper West Region.
The ceremony saw 20 teachers across the KG, Primary, JHS, SHS, and SISO categories receive motorbikes, televisions, and laptops for their dedication. In a massive boost to local human resource development, 365 students also received scholarship cheques totaling GH₵ 560,000 to settle their academic fees.
