Kpebu petitions GTEC over ‘illegal derecognition’ of SMC university degrees

Legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has filed a petition with the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) on behalf of the Swiss Management Centre (SMC) University Alumni Association (Ghana Chapter).

He is calling on the Commission’s Governing Board to intervene in what he terms the “illegal derecognition” of degrees awarded by SMC University, Switzerland.

In a petition dated October 27, 2025, and addressed to GTEC’s Board Chairman, Kpebu argued that the directive issued by the Director-General of the Commission — declaring SMC University degrees unrecognized — was both procedurally and substantively flawed. He said the decision disregarded the principles of fairness, due process, and legitimate expectation.

According to the petition, SMC University received official accreditation from the National Accreditation Board (NAB) between 2012 and 2018 as a foreign tertiary institution authorized to operate in Ghana. During that period, the university offered several professional and doctoral programmes, including the Doctor of Finance (DFin), Doctor of Management (DoM), and Doctor of Business Administration (DBA).

Kpebu explained that when NAB withdrew SMC University’s accreditation in 2018, it did so because of the school’s “home-country accreditation” status, not because of any academic deficiencies. Importantly, he said, the Board allowed students already enrolled to complete their programmes and be awarded valid degrees — a position communicated in several official letters confirming the continued legitimacy of such qualifications.

He, however, contends that the recent directive from the current GTEC administration contradicts those earlier assurances, as it instructs public and private institutions not to recognize SMC degrees.

Describing the move as “ultra vires,” the petition insists that the directive was issued without the knowledge or approval of GTEC’s Governing Board, in violation of the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023).

“The directive seeks to apply retrospectively to degrees lawfully earned years earlier, contrary to established legal principles and Article 107 of the 1992 Constitution, which prohibits retrospective laws,” the petition stated.

Kpebu further argued that the directive violates the legitimate expectations of graduates who obtained their qualifications under valid accreditation. He accused GTEC of denying affected persons the opportunity to be heard, describing the process as a breach of natural justice and due process.

He warned that the directive could cause severe reputational and psychological harm to hundreds of SMC graduates in Ghana, including loss of employment opportunities, demotions, and public misperception that their qualifications are fraudulent.

The petition, therefore, calls on the GTEC Board to set aside the directive pending a full review, reaffirm the validity of degrees obtained under NAB accreditation up to 2018, and issue an official clarification to employers and the public to correct misperceptions regarding SMC degrees.

In his concluding remarks, Kpebu emphasised that the Alumni Association supports GTEC’s role in maintaining standards in higher education but urged the Board to act swiftly to restore confidence in Ghana’s regulatory system and protect innocent graduates.

“We appeal for the urgent intervention of the Governing Board to restore confidence in the regulatory system, protect innocent graduates, and avert possible litigation and public mistrust in GTEC,” the petition concluded.