Eight pregnant girls are writing the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), at the Jaman North District of the Brong-Ahafo Region.

The girls are among the 1,476 candidates drawn from 54 junior high schools, writing the examination at six centres in the district.

This came to light when Odeneho Affram Brempong III, Paramount Chief of Suma visited some of the examination centres and presented pencils and erasers to be distributed among the candidates.

He was accompanied by the Mr Daniel Nti Ateware, District Chief Executive and other heads of department.

One of the girls, who said she is 16 years old and about six-month old pregnant, told the Ghana News Agency on condition of anonymity that her parents encouraged her to participate in the examination.

According to her she had prepared adequately for the examination and she was optimistic that she would pass with good grades to continue her education after delivery.

Odeneho Brempong advised the candidates not to panic because they are going to answer questions they have learnt.

Cautioning the candidates against examination malpractices, the paramount chief told them not to send any foreign material to the hall and strive for individual work.

Mr John Bilikpe, District Director of Education thanked Odeneho Dr Brempong, for the gesture, which he said would motivate the candidates psychologically to endeavour to perform well.

He warned that examination malpractices are serious offences and candidates who would be caught would be punished.