The Ghana Armed Forces has confirmed the alleged acts of cheating in the military examinations at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College in a letter addressed to our Editor following a query for clarification on the matter.

This paper sent an email to the Director of Public Relations wanting to know from him whether three (3) Army officers sent foreign materials to the examinations room and was caught by their invigilators and whether it is true that a BOI has been set up concerning the cheating.

Also, the paper wanted to find out why the President and membership of the BOI was changed 3 times and for what purpose and finally whether instead of cheating, the subject matter of the BOI is plagiarism?

A letter dated 19th April 2011 with reference number GHQ/6983/1/A (DPR), signed by Colonel M Atintande and copied to five (5) different places states that “this is to confirm that an incident like that occurred at the college recently during a major class session, which resulted in three students, all Ghanaians, being temporarily withdrawn from the college pending investigation”. Below is the response by the Ghana Armed Forces.

MEDIA QUERY-ALLEGED EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE

I refer to your email dated 15 April 2011 requesting information on an alleged examination malpractice at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College. This is to confirm that an incident like that occurred at the college recently during a major class session, which resulted in three students, all Ghanaians, being temporarily withdrawn from the college pending investigation.

A Board of Inquiry has indeed been set up to investigate the matter and to ensure that the right thing is done. The chairman of the board had to be changed because of the need to ensure transparency and impartiality in the conduct of the board and that the best outcome is arrived at.

I may have to add that in order not jeopardize the work of the board/ or impair the investigations, it suffices not to comment on other aspects of the case until the end of the inquiry.

Let me take this opportunity to assure Daybreak and indeed all other media outlets of the cooperation of the Ghana Armed Forces as a whole and this Directorate in particular as they discharge their onerous duty of making our country greater and stronger.

I shall however remind us all that there are many issues of administrative nature that will have to be treated internally and therefore I will entreat Daybreak and all other media to be circumspect in handling issues relating to the Ghana Armed Forces.

Thank you for your cooperation.