University of Ghana sacks 3 students for impersonation in end-of-semester exams

Three university students have just been shown the exit door, not for failing, but for passing with someone else’s face. Yes, impersonation in the end-of-semester exams. Who needs to study when you can hire a lookalike with a good memory?

The University of Ghana has sent three students packing after they were found guilty of impersonation during end-of-semester examinations, in violation of the university’s examination regulations.

Exam fraud isn’t breaking news. From students sneaking notes into sleeves to entire underground operations providing professional impostors for crucial tests, cheating has evolved into an art form. But impersonation? That is a whole different league.

According to a statement from university authorities, the students were involved in what officials are calling a “sophisticated” scheme.

The affected students, Christian Owusu Yeboah (ID: 10969509), Linda Attah Lambongyi (ID: 10965543), and Doris Bikpe (ID: 11357985), were implicated in separate incidents of impersonation during the first semester of the 2023/2024 academic year.

According to an official notice, Yeboah and Lambongyi were involved in impersonation during the MKTG301: Principles of Marketing exam, while Bikpe was found guilty of impersonation during the UGBS103: Introductory French examination.

Their actions were deemed to be in direct breach of Regulation 11.12 of the University of Ghana Regulations on Examinations, which strictly prohibits impersonation and classifies it as a serious academic offense.

As a result, all three students have been
1. Awarded a Grade Z for the affected semester (1st semester, 2023/2024 academic year), indicating the nullification of their results for that period.
2. Expelled from the university, effectively terminating their academic relationship with the institution.

In related development, the university has publicly sanctioned 112 students for various acts of misconduct. These sanctions were detailed in an official notice from the Office of the Registrar. Other key sanctions imposed included major suspensions for disorderly conduct, Grade Z, Grade X and additional sanctions for examination malpractice.

Academic fraud, in all its many shades, will persist for as long as we idolize grades over actual learning. Today it’s impersonation; tomorrow it might be leaked questions or manipulated admission lists. The University of Ghana has made its move, but the bigger question remains: when will academia tackle the real fraud—the kind woven deep into its fabric?