MR DEKU WELCOMED; COUNCIL MEMBERS GATHER; MR DEKU SPEAKS.




Initials IF/VS/RM/ES



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Background: MR A.K. DEKU, A LEADING MEMBER OF GHANA'S NATIONAL LIBERATION COUNCIL, TOLD 40 REPRESENTATIVES OF THE WEST AFRICAN EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL, AT A MEETING IN KUMASI, THAT EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN THE WISDOM OF POOLING RESOURCES IN WEST AFRICA. MR DEKU IS COMMISSIONER OF POLICE IN GHANA, AS WELL AS N.L.C. MEMBER WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR EDUCATION.

HE WAS RECEIVED AT THE KUMASI UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BY MR J.A. CRONJIE, REGISTRAR OF THE WEST AFRICAN EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL. THE MEETING, WHICH OPENED ON MONDAY (3 APRIL), WAS ATTENDED BY REPRESENTATIVES FROM GHANA, NIGERIA, SIERRA LEONE, THE GAMBIA AND BRITAIN. LIBERIAN WAS REPRESENTED AT THE COUNCIL'S MEETING FOR THE FIRST TIME -- AS AN OBSERVER COUNTRY. IT HOPES TO GAIN FULL MEMBERSHIP, ALONG WITH OTHER WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES AT A LATER DATE.

MR DEKU TOLD THE MEETING, THE COUNCIL'S 15TH, THAT HE HOPED IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO ADMIT LIBERIA AND THE OTHER COUNTRIES TO FULL MEMBERSHIP.

SO FAR THE COUNCIL HAS TAKEN ON SOLE AUTHORSHIP FOR EXAMINATIONS IN THE WEST AFRICAN SCHOOL CERTIFICATE, AND ORDINARY LEVEL GENERAL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATIONS. IT HOPES SOON TO TAKE OVER FROM LONDON UNIVERSITY THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADVANCED LEVEL CERTIFICATE.