Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister, has expressed dismay about the reported poor supervision and invigilation in five Ashanti schools during the 2003 Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE).

The schools are, the Armed Forces Secondary/Technical, Agogo State, Ejisuman, Jachie-Pramso and Juaben Secondary Schools.

A statement issued in Kumasi on Tuesday stated that Mr Boafo said he fully supported the decision by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) to refer the offending schools to the Ghana Education Service (GES) for appropriate sanctions.

He said in as much as all would like to see schools in the region score high examination marks, the best way to achieve this should not be through cheating and unfair examination practices.

The Regional Minister asked Ghanaians to frown on all forms of indiscipline, adding that, "the fight against indiscipline in the Ghanaian society should be total, uncompromising and non-negotiable on all fronts".

He said he would convene a meeting with heads of the five schools to discuss ways of preventing any such unfortunate incidence in the future.

In another statement, Mr Akwasi Osei-Agyei, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Member of Parliament (MP) for Ejisu-Juaben, in whose constituency two of the affected schools are located, reminded students that success could only come through hard work.

They should, therefore, study very hard to enable them to achieve good grades in examinations and refrain from any conduct that could dent the image of the schools.

Mr Osei-Agyei said examination malpractices were as dishonourable and disgraceful as they were criminal.

He commended the WAEC for its bold decision to reprimand the schools and to ask the GES to apply the necessary sanctions against them.