Kumasi, April 11, GNA - This year's Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) started smoothly in the Kumasi Metropolis on Monday morning with no reports of any problems from the centres. The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Kwaku Agyemang-Mensah, accompanied by the Regional Education Director, Mr Joseph Kingsley Onyinah, toured some of the examination centres including the Asem Cluster of Schools, Kumasi Technical Institute (KTI) and Serwaa Nyarko Senior High School to see for themselves the on-going activities. In all, 76,492 candidates are sitting for the BECE in the region, representing 20 per cent of the national total and are made up 41,073 males and 35,419 are females.

Dr Agyemang-Mensah expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the examination so far and said he was confident that all would comport themselves and accept to play by the rules.

He advised the candidates to resist any temptation to cheat and wished them the best of luck.

Dr Agyemang-Mensah said he was happy that all registered candidates at the centres visited were present and writing the papers. Mr Onyinah said he did not anticipate any problems.