The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has cautioned Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates and invigilators against engaging in examination malpractices.

Speaking during a monitoring visit to Asawinso Senior High School in the Western North Region, he urged candidates to remain honest and uphold integrity.

He also called on them to follow all examination rules and avoid any form of cheating in the examination hall, stressing that integrity and honesty shape one’s future and the kind of responsible citizen they will become.

"To you the candidates honest and integrity defines citizenship, honest and integrity defines patriotism and honest and integrity must be the hallmark of your molding, character molding to be able to serve Ghana tomorrow.

"So don't engage in any exam malpractice and to our invigilators we expect nothing short of the highest standard of integrity," he stated.

He added that the Ministry is concerned about the growing phenomenon of examination malpractices.

He noted that last year it affected about 178 candidates, leading to several papers being withheld and some examinations being cancelled in certain instances.

He further stated that about eight teachers were also involved in facilitating cheating last year.

He indicated that they have been dealt with in accordance with the law, as they were convicted and sentenced, and will be taken off the payroll of the Ghana Education Service (GES).

He asserted that any candidate or invigilator found engaging in such acts will be dealt with according to the law, and he extended his best wishes to them for their examinations.

"About 8 of them have been convicted and sentenced and they will be taken off the payroll of the Ghana Education Service so we mean business.

"We mean that walk to this exercise with the highest sense of integrity as that defines your future and what kind of responsible citizen you will be tomorrow, I wish you all the best," he said.