Candidates in the on-going West African Senior Secondary School Examination (WASSSCE) in the Yendi Municipality were astounded when the lights went off midway into the English Oral paper as part of the ongoing load shedding exercise.

The power outage, which halted proceedings and lasted for about 30 minutes, left management of the school perplexed, as they could not continue the broadcast through the public address system for the students.

The affected students of the Dagbon State and Yendi Senior High Schools stared at each other in amazement in the examination hall while invigilators prayed for a miracle.

15 minutes later authorities of Dagbon State Senior High School decided to use the school’s generator which had run out of fuel.

The power was finally restored 30 minutes later after authorities pleaded with managers of the Volta River Authority (VRA) to consider the plight of the poor candidates.

Meanwhile, 1,059 students sat for the WASSSCE in Yendi Senior High School while Dagbon State recorded 719 candidates with only two absentees.

One of the candidates was reported to have been involved in a fatal accident. He is said to be receiving treatment at the Yendi government Hospital.

It was also uncovered that about four female candidates were pregnant and could put to bed anytime soon, but authorities insisted they could exercise their right to take part in the exams.

The exercise in the entire region on the first day was smooth except a few hitches that delayed the early start of the English Oral Paper.

Generally students comported themselves on the first day of the examination and were applauded by invigilators who supervised proceedings.