It was a clean sweep for advocates of girl-child education as three young women claimed the top three spots at the 2025 West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Distinction Awards ceremony in Accra yesterday.
Huda Suleman Suglo, a former student of Legacy Girls’ College, emerged as the overall best candidate in Ghana.
She was followed by her schoolmate, Paula Adzo Elinam Sowu, who placed second, while Matthea Aba Andoh of Hope College secured the third position in the 2025 edition of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
For their sterling performances, the students were presented with cash prizes, laptop computers, certificates of recognition and stationery, while their schools received desktop computers and plaques for nurturing them.
Matthea Andoh, who placed third overall, received the cedi equivalent of $700, a certificate of recognition, a cheque for GH₵15,000, a laptop computer and a dictionary. Hope College, her alma mater, received a plaque and a desktop computer for producing her.
The second-ranked candidate, Paula Adzo Elinam Sowu, received the cedi equivalent of $900 from the WAEC Endowment Fund, a certificate of recognition, a cheque for GH₵20,000, a laptop computer and a dictionary.
She was also presented with a citation by the headmistress of Legacy Girls’ College.
The overall best student in the 2025 WASSCE, Huda Suleman Suglo, received the cedi equivalent of $1,200, a certificate of recognition, a cheque for GH₵30,000, a laptop computer and a dictionary.
Legacy Girls’ College received plaques and desktop computers for producing both the first and second best WASSCE candidates.
Huda was also adjudged the overall best candidate in the General Arts programme and was presented with an additional cheque for GH₵10,000 as well as a laptop computer. She also received a citation from her alma mater.
Legacy Girls’ College was again presented with a plaque for producing the overall best candidate in the General Arts Programme.
Other award winners included Ameera Issifu of Hope College, who was the best performing student in the General Science programme; Eric Aduamoah Larbi of Presbyterian Boys’ Senior High School (PRESEC), who emerged as the best student in the Business programme; and Philip Dadzie Quarcoe of Mfantsipim School, who was the best performing student in the Technical programme.
The Deputy Minister for Education, Dr Clement Apaak, who represented the Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, said the achievements of the students “demonstrate that excellence is attainable when talent is combined with discipline and commitment.”
He reminded the award winners that they had set an example for students in Ghana and beyond.
“You have proven that with focus and determination, greatness is possible,” he said.
Dr Apaak also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the WASSCE.
“Examinations such as the WASSCE remain an essential mechanism for assessing learning outcomes and maintaining educational standards. They must therefore be conducted with the highest integrity and fairness,” he said.
He, however, expressed concern about reports of examination malpractice, noting that such practices undermine the credibility of the education system and erode public confidence in WAEC certificates.
He assured that the Ministry of Education would work closely with WAEC and other stakeholders to safeguard the credibility and integrity of the examination.
By SELORM GBORBIDZI, Accra
