The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu has confirmed that some students who got involved in an accident were denied the opportunity to write the Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE) due to late arrival.

Speaking to the development in a 3news video posted on X on June 16, 2025, the minister described the incident as a "double tragedy" for students, who have not only endured the emotional and physical trauma of an accident but were subsequently barred from taking the crucial exams.

"They suffered emotional trouble and trauma and also associated barring from writing the exams," Iddrisu stated.

In response to this unfortunate event, the minister assured that necessary corrective measures would be implemented.

He revealed that the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) and his team are currently investigating the matter.

"The Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) and his men are investigating the matter and appropriate remedial actions will be taken to allow the students to progress," he affirmed.

He assured that the GES investigation and the remedial actions that would follow will cure some of the challenges in the examination system, especially when unforeseen circumstances like accidents impact a student's ability to arrive on time.

Background

Eight Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates from Nangbagu Yapala M/A JHS in the Northern Region were involved in a road accident on their way to write Tuesday June 10, 2025, paper at the Tamale Secondary School (Tamasco) examination centre in the Sagnarigu Municipality. The tragic incident occurred about 5km from the exam site when the tricycle transporting the students collided with a motorbike carrying a man and his wife.

The motorcyclist died on the spot, while his wife and all eight students sustained various degrees of injuries.

A supervisor accompanying the candidates, Abdulai Mohammed, recounted that the accident happened after the tricycle’s steering reportedly locked, causing the rider to lose control and crash into the motorbike.

“We got another means to carry them to the Tamale West Hospital, but because of the ongoing strike, it took a while before they managed to get two nurses and one doctor to attend to them,” Mohammed explained.

He said that although the students had not been discharged, they insisted on writing the exam.

However, they arrived after the first paper had already ended.

“When we got to the centre, they had finished the first paper, and the students were coming out. We isolated our students so they could write, but unfortunately, they were denied,” Mohammed said.

He added that the students were devastated when they were told they would not be allowed to sit the paper.

“Some of the students started collapsing upon hearing the news. As we speak, they have been rushed to the hospital again,” he said.

Watch video below

Minister for Education Haruna Iddrisu has confirmed that a student who was late due to an accident was unable to write the Basic Education Certificate Examinations.

He stated that necessary corrective measures will be implemented. #TV3GH pic.twitter.com/bXICMccWXw

— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) June 16, 2025