By Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has intensified regulatory oversight of academic qualifications after uncovering widespread use of doctorate degrees awarded by unaccredited foreign institutions.
Director-General of GTEC, Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, says investigations by the Commission reveal that many doctorate certificates held by Ghanaians were issued by institutions whose operations and accreditation status are questionable, rendering such qualifications invalid under Ghana’s regulatory framework.
Speaking on TV3, Prof. Abdulai explained that GTEC’s actions are aimed at protecting the integrity of Ghana’s tertiary education system, not targeting individuals.
“Some of these certificates are invalid because the basis upon which they were awarded is questionable. Many of the institutions involved, particularly foreign ones, do not have accreditation,” he stated.
He disclosed that GTEC has engaged numerous individuals privately through letters and meetings, noting that the majority voluntarily stop using the titles once the regulatory implications are explained to them.
According to the Director-General, cases made public represent only a small portion of ongoing investigations, with compliance largely achieved through dialogue rather than sanctions.
Prof. Abdulai also dismissed claims of selective enforcement or personal vendettas, stressing that the Commission applies the law uniformly.
“This is about regulation, not personalities. In most cases, people cooperate once they understand that the use of such titles dilutes the academic environment,” he said.
GTEC maintains that the ongoing crackdown is essential to curb academic misrepresentation, safeguard professional standards, and ensure public confidence in Ghana’s higher education system.
