COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah urges BECE candidates to be confident and excel

Technical Advisor to the Minister for the Interior, Commissioner of Police (COP) Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, has encouraged candidates sitting for the 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) to face the exams with courage, confidence, and integrity.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Thinknewsonline.com, COP Addo-Danquah advised the over 600,000 candidates nationwide to overcome their fears and approach the examination with a positive mindset.

“Overcome your fears, write the exams with confidence, and I tell you, you will come out with flying colours,” she said, urging candidates to trust in their preparation and believe in themselves.

She further cautioned candidates against engaging in any form of examination malpractice, stressing that such behaviour could jeopardize their future.

“I want to strongly advise all candidates to steer clear of any form of cheating. Examination malpractices are not good and can ruin your hard-earned academic journey,” she warned.

This year’s BECE, which officially began today, Wednesday, June 11, and ends on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, has seen a total of 603,328 school candidates—297,250 males and 306,078 females—taking part across the country.

This marks the first batch of students expected to benefit from the new government's Free Senior High School (FSHS) Policy.

The number represents a 5.99% increase over the 2024 candidate figure of 569,236. Additionally, 1,661 private candidates—858 males and 803 females—are also participating in the exam, a 19.49% rise from last year.

The BECE for School Candidates is taking place in 2,237 centres nationwide, while the Private Candidates are writing at 15 centres located in regional capitals.

Each candidate is expected to write an average of nine subjects from a list of 11, including English Language, Mathematics, Science, Ghanaian Language, Social Studies, Religious and Moral Education, Creative Arts and Design, and Career Technology.

Two papers are scheduled daily, at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. respectively.

COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah concluded by wishing all candidates the very best, expressing confidence in their ability to succeed.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith