The West African Journal of Pharmacy (WAJP) is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and takes all possible measures against publication malpractice. The Journal adheres to international best practices in scholarly publishing and aligns its policies with the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).

This statement outlines the ethical responsibilities of authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher.

1. Duties of Authors
1.1 Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must ensure that submitted manuscripts are original works. Plagiarism in all its forms—including self-plagiarism, duplicate publication, and unattributed copying—is unethical and unacceptable. All submissions may be screened using plagiarism detection software.

1.2 Data Integrity and Fabrication

Authors must present accurate data and objective discussion of findings. Fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of data constitutes serious ethical misconduct.

1.3 Multiple or Concurrent Publication

Authors should not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal concurrently. Manuscripts under review elsewhere will not be considered.

1.4 Authorship Criteria

Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made substantial contributions to:

- Study conception and design, acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation;

- Drafting or critically revising the manuscript;

- Final approval of the version to be published.

All contributors who do not meet authorship criteria should be acknowledged appropriately.

1.5 Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

Authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could influence their work.

1.6 Ethical Approval for Research

Research involving human participants or animals must include:

- Evidence of approval from an appropriate ethics committee or institutional review board;

- Confirmation that informed consent was obtained where applicable;

- Compliance with international ethical standards.

2. Duties of Editors
2.1 Publication Decisions

Editors are responsible for deciding which manuscripts are accepted for publication based on:

- Scientific merit,

- Originality,

- Relevance to the scope of the Journal,

Ethical compliance.

Editorial decisions are made without discrimination based on race, gender, ethnicity, citizenship, or institutional affiliation.

2.2 Confidentiality

Editors must ensure that information regarding submitted manuscripts is kept confidential.

2.3 Conflict of Interest

Editors must not use unpublished information for personal research and must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where conflicts of interest exist.

2.4 Handling Misconduct

In cases of suspected misconduct, the Journal will follow COPE guidelines, including investigation, correction, retraction, or expression of concern when necessary.

3. Duties of Reviewers
3.1 Contribution to Editorial Decisions

Peer reviewers assist editors in making publication decisions and improving the quality of manuscripts.

3.2 Confidentiality

Manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents.

3.3 Objectivity

Reviews should be conducted objectively, with constructive feedback provided to authors.

3.4 Acknowledgment of Sources

Reviewers should identify relevant published work not cited by the authors and report any suspected plagiarism or overlap.

3.5 Conflict of Interest

Reviewers must decline to review manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest.

4. Publisher’s Responsibilities

The publisher of the West African Journal of Pharmacy ensures that:

- Editorial decisions remain independent of commercial interests;

- Ethical concerns are addressed promptly and transparently;

Corrections, clarifications, retractions, and apologies are published when necessary.

5. Corrections and Retractions

When significant errors or ethical breaches are identified, the Journal will:

- Publish corrections (errata or corrigenda),

- Issue retractions where findings are unreliable due to misconduct or honest error,

Publish expressions of concern where appropriate.

6. Complaints and Appeals

Authors who wish to appeal editorial decisions or raise ethical concerns may submit a formal written complaint to the Editorial Office. All complaints will be handled in accordance with COPE procedures.

Commitment to Ethical Publishing

The West African Journal of Pharmacy is dedicated to promoting integrity, transparency, and accountability in pharmaceutical research and scholarship across West Africa and beyond.