Over the years, Ghana has produced some of the brightest minds in West Africa through the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). Each year, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) recognises outstanding candidates through its prestigious Distinction and International Excellence Awards. These awards celebrate students who not only top the national rankings but also compete with the best across the region. From 2006 onward, this recognition has become a mark of academic excellence in Ghana, highlighting young achievers who often go on to pursue careers in medicine, engineering, computer science, and other vital fields.
This article takes a year-by-year look at the best WASSCE students in Ghana from 2006 to date, highlighting their senior high schools, regions, awards won, and where they are now. Whether they earned the top spot nationally or were ranked the best in all of West Africa, these students represent hope, hard work, and the future of Ghana. Their stories are not just about grades, but about discipline, determination, and the power of education to transform lives.
Each year’s award ceremony recognised these students with cash prizes, citations and scholarships, celebrating Ghana’s leading WASSCE performers. Special honours are noted: for example, Yeboah-Kordieh won the Best in West Africa Award in 2012, and Ghana had West Africa’s top three candidates in 2012–15 and 2017–20.
Let’s explore the journeys of the best students in Ghana, who are also the best WASSCE students in Ghana and West Africa.
Best WASSCE Students in Ghana:
2006
- Wadee Nana Ama Kuntuah (female) – Wesley Girls’ SHS, Cape Coast (Central Region). Wadee won Ghana’s first WAEC Distinction Award in 2006.
2007
- Kwame Akoi (male) – Achimota SHS, Accra (Greater Accra Region). In 2007, Akoi Kwame earned the national Distinction Award.
2008
- Priscilla Asafo-Adjei (female) – St. Louis SHS, Kumasi (Ashanti Region). Priscilla won the 2008 Distinction Award.
2009
- Frank Adu-Poku (male) – Presbyterian Boys’ SHS, Legon (Greater Accra Region). Frank Adu-Poku received Ghana’s 2009 Distinction Award.
2010
- No record. There is no publicly listed Distinction Award winner for 2010.
2011
- Sakyi Ann Abena Antwiwaa (female) – Wesley Girls’ SHS, Cape Coast (Central Region). Sakyi won the 2011 award. She later went on to study at the University of Ghana Medical School.
2012
- Yvatte Yeboah-Kordieh (female) – Wesley Girls’ SHS, Cape Coast (Central Region). Yvatte (Yvette) Yeboah-Kordieh was Ghana’s overall best WASSCE candidate in 2012. She also received the Augustus Bandele Oyediran Award as Best Candidate in West Africa that year. Yeboah-Kordieh later attended the University of Ghana Medical School.
2013
- Ivy Ama Mannoh (female) – Wesley Girls’ SHS, Cape Coast (Central Region). Ivy Mannoh won the 2013 Distinction Award. She topped the country and was also the first-place recipient at WAEC’s International Excellence Awards.
- Rhoda Adu-Boafo (female) – Wesley Girls’ SHS, Cape Coast. Rhoda was second in Ghana for 2013.
- Dery Mwinmaarong Lucio (male) – St. Francis Xavier Jnr Seminary SHS, Wa (Upper West Region). Dery was third in Ghana.
All three girls received WAEC prizes in Accra and later pursued tertiary studies: Ivy Mannoh went on to study medicine at the University of Ghana, while Rhoda and Dery enrolled in Ghanaian universities
2014
- Mickail Hasan (male) – Ghana Senior Technical School, Takoradi (Western Region). Hasan won the 2014 national Distinction Award and swept all West African awards, earning first place in Ghana and in the five-country WASSCE. He also won Best Candidate in the General Science programme. Hasan later received a full university scholarship and studied at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
- Kenyah Blaykyi (male) – St. Augustine’s College, Cape Coast (Central Region). Kenyah was second in Ghana (and second in West Africa) for 2014. He later studied science at the University of Ghana.
- Henry Archibald Enninful (male) – Mfantsipim School, Cape Coast (Central Region). Henry placed third in Ghana (and third in West Africa). He went on to study at the University of Ghana.
2015
- Jessica Ayeley Quaye (female) – Wesley Girls’ SHS, Cape Coast (Central Region). Jessica was Ghana’s overall best in 2015 (first prize) and also won the Augustus Bandele Oyediran Award for Best Candidate in West Africa. She began studying Computer Science at Ashesi University.
- Ruth Ewura-Ama Awudzi (female) – Wesley Girls’ SHS, Cape Coast. Ruth was second in Ghana for 2015 (second place). She enrolled in the University of Ghana Medical School after WASSCE.
- Danielle Amo-Mensah (female) – Wesley Girls’ SHS, Cape Coast. Danielle was third in Ghana. She also went on to the University of Ghana Medical School.
All three Wesley Girls students were honoured in March 2016 with scholarships and laptops.
2016
- Pius Kyere (male) – St. James Seminary SHS, Sunyani (Bono Region). Pius was crowned Ghana’s overall best WASSCE candidate in 2016. He also took first prize at the WAEC International Excellence Awards (best in West Africa), and he was Best Candidate in the General Science programme. Pius enrolled in Medicine at KNUST.
- Benjamin Bortey Sango (male) – Accra Academy, Accra (Greater Accra Region). Benjamin was second in Ghana and third in West Africa for 2016. He later studied at the University of Ghana.
- Richmond Kwame Mensah (male) – St. James Seminary SHS, Sunyani (Bono Region). Richmond placed third in Ghana. He went on to university studies in Ghana.
2017
- Jochebed Adwoa Sutherland (female) – Holy Child SHS, Cape Coast (Central Region). Jochebed was Ghana’s overall best in 2017 and received the West Africa top prize (Augustus Bandele Oyediran Award).
- Audrey Emefa Awuttey (female) – Holy Child SHS, Cape Coast. Audrey took second place in Ghana.
- Rachel Amaning Kwarteng (female) – Aburi Girls’ SHS, Aburi (Eastern Region). Rachel was third in Ghana.
All three students scored straight A1s in their subjects. Jochebed and Audrey later pursued medical studies (Jochebed at the University of Ghana), and Rachel went on to study science at another university.
2018
- Wilhermina Opoku (female) – Wesley Girls’ SHS, Cape Coast (Central Region). Wilhermina won the 2018 Distinction Award (overall best). She went on to study science at KNUST.
- Brago Sarpong Afrifa (male) – Yaa Asantewaa Girls’ SHS, Kumasi (Ashanti Region). Sarpong placed second in Ghana for 2018. He later attended university in Ghana.
- Imelda Naa Ayorkor Adjei (female) – Wesley Girls’ SHS, Cape Coast. Imelda was third in 2018. She enrolled at the University of Ghana after high school.
2019
- Melisa Abena Okyerewaa Amoah (female) – Wesley Girls’ SHS, Cape Coast (Central Region). Melisa was Ghana’s overall best in 2019. She also earned Best Candidate in the General Science programme. Melisa studied Medicine at the University of Ghana.
- Nana Adwoa Agyemang Sereboo (female) – Wesley Girls’ SHS, Cape Coast. Nana Adwoa was second in Ghana in 2019, and the Best in the Business programme. She attended Ashesi University, studying Business/Information Technology.
- Ewurabena Esiboaba Cudjoe (female) – Wesley Girls’ SHS, Cape Coast. Ewurabena was third in Ghana in 2019 and Best in the Home Economics programme. She enrolled in Medicine at the University of Ghana.
2020
- Cecil Tetteh Kumah (male) – Mfantsipim School, Cape Coast (Central Region). Cecil was Ghana’s best WASSCE student in 2020 (overall first) and also ranked first in West Africa. He was the Best Candidate in the General Science programme. Cecil went on to study Petroleum Engineering at Covenant University in Nigeria (and later transferred to Columbia University, USA).
- Godfred Aseda Obeng (male) – Hope College, Cape Coast (Central Region). Godfred was second in Ghana (and second in West Africa) in 2020. He studied Medicine at the University of Ghana and later enrolled in PhD studies.
- Afua Manukure Ansah (female) – Achimota School, Accra (Greater Accra Region). Afua was third in Ghana for 2020. She attained 8 A1 grades and won the Best in General Arts programme. Afua is now studying Engineering at Cornell University (USA).
2021
- Kwame Brako Asante (male) – Presbyterian Boys’ SHS (Presec), Legon, Accra (Greater Accra Region). Kwame Brako was Ghana’s overall best candidate in 2021 and won the second prize (first runner-up) in West Africa. He scored a T-score of 600.9987 and began studying Computer Science at Ashesi University.
- Kwaku Ohene-Amoani (male) – St. James Seminary SHS, Sunyani (Bono Region). Kwaku was second in Ghana in 2021. He went on to pursue medicine at KNUST.
- Ransford Korang Agyei (male) – St. James Seminary SHS, Sunyani (Bono Region). Korang was third in Ghana in 2021. He continued to study at the university in Ghana.
2022
- Alex Opoku Manu (male) – St. James Seminary SHS, Sunyani (Bono Region). Alex topped Ghana’s 2022 WASSCE and also took first prize in West Africa. He won Best in the General Science programme. Alex later entered Ashesi University to study engineering.
- Benjamin Eyram Nana Kwame Degbey (male) – St. James Seminary SHS, Sunyani (Bono Region). Benjamin placed second in Ghana in 2022 (and second in West Africa). He now studies at the University of Ghana.
2023
- Amo-Kodieh Leonard Kofi Marton (male) – St. James Seminary SHS, Sunyani (Bono Region). Amo-Kodieh was Ghana’s best candidate in 2023 and won the WAEC Excellence Award first prize (best in West Africa). He is now studying Medicine at KNUST.
- Dzandu Selorm (female) – Labone SHS, Accra (Greater Accra Region). Dzandu placed second in Ghana’s 2023 WASSCE (and second in West Africa). She is also pursuing Medicine at KNUST.
- Daniel Asenso-Gyambibi (male) – St. James Seminary SHS, Sunyani (Bono Region). Daniel was third in Ghana for 2023 (and third in West Africa). He began studies at Ashesi University.
2024
- David Nii Commey Ankrah from Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School (PRESEC), Legon,
- Henschel Tabi Frempong-Manso from Hope College, and
- Benedict Ofori Debrah from Kade Senior High Technical School
These three emerged as the top candidates in the entire West African sub-region. Ankrah tied for first place overall with a Liberian student, while Frempong-Manso and Debrah placed second and third, respectively. Their stellar performances were chosen from among over one million candidates who sat for the 2024 WASSCE across five West African countries. The awards were announced at WAEC’s 73rd Annual Council Meeting held in Monrovia, Liberia, in March 2025. All three Ghanaian students earned A1 grades in all eight subjects. In 2025, Ankrah is studying Computer Engineering at the University of Ghana, Frempong-Manso is pursuing Human Biology at KNUST, and Debrah is also studying Human Biology at KNUST, furthering their academic journeys as some of Ghana’s brightest young minds.
Best Senior High Schools in Ghana Based on WASSCE:
Here is a tally of the number of times each Senior High School (SHS) in Ghana produced a student who won the Overall Best WASSCE Candidate (1st National Prize) from 2006 to 2025:
| Senior High School | Number of Wins (1st Overall in Ghana) |
|---|---|
| Wesley Girls’ SHS, Cape Coast | 7 |
| St. James Seminary SHS, Sunyani | 4 |
| Holy Child SHS, Cape Coast | 1 |
| Presbyterian Boys’ SHS, Legon | 3 |
| Mfantsipim School, Cape Coast | 1 |
| Hope College, Cape Coast | 2 |
| St. Louis SHS, Kumasi | 1 |
| Achimota School, Accra | 1 |
| Ghana Senior Technical School, Takoradi | 1 |
| Labone SHS, Accra | 0 (produced 2nd place, not 1st) |
| St. Augustine’s College, Cape Coast | 0 (produced 2nd place, not 1st) |
| St. Francis Xavier Seminary, Wa | 0 (produced 3rd place) |
| Yaa Asantewaa Girls’ SHS, Kumasi | 0 (produced 2nd place) |
| Aburi Girls’ SHS, Aburi | 0 (produced 3rd place) |
| Kade Senior High Technical School | 0 (produced 3rd place) |
📌 Note: Only schools with 1st place national winners are tallied above. Schools with students who placed 2nd or 3rd but never won 1st are noted for reference.
Summary:
- Wesley Girls’ SHS leads with 7 overall national wins, followed by
- St. James Seminary SHS with 4 wins,
- While several other schools have won once or twice.
