KsTU to investigate degrees labelled as ‘unrecognized’ by GTEC

The Governing Council of Kumasi Technical University has set up a committee to probe staff degrees recently classified as “unrecognised” by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission.

The decision follows the publication of a list by GTEC identifying some universities whose academic programmes are not recognised, raising concerns about the credentials of staff across tertiary institutions.

In a press release dated December 15, the university said the committee has been tasked to “interrogate the directives of Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) on staff holding degrees from some ‘unrecognised universities’.”

The statement explained that the committee will also examine a petition submitted against the Vice-Chancellor over claims that his PhD was obtained from one of the institutions described as unrecognised.

According to the university, “a committee has been constituted to interrogate the directives of Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) on staff holding degrees from some ‘unrecognised universities’; and a petition against the Vice-Chancellor for having a PhD from one of those universities.”

The Governing Council stressed that the process is aimed at protecting the credibility of the institution and ensuring adherence to national regulatory standards in higher education.

“The Committee is currently reviewing the petition, and Council will take other necessary steps to ensure that the University’s integrity and reputation are upheld,” the release said.

The university acknowledged growing public interest in the matter, particularly among staff, students, and other stakeholders, following GTEC’s publication and the issues it has generated within the tertiary education space.

Management assured that due process will be followed throughout the inquiry, with transparency and fairness guiding the committee’s work.

“We appreciate the patience and understanding of our stakeholders as we work to resolve this matter in a fair and transparent manner,” the statement added.

The Registrar, who signed the release as Secretary to the Governing Council, indicated that the university would communicate further decisions after the committee completes its review and submits its recommendations.

The development places Kumasi Technical University among institutions responding formally to GTEC’s recent actions, as scrutiny intensifies over academic qualifications and institutional recognition in Ghana’s tertiary education sector.

This follows a derecognition spree by GTEC, the tertiary education regulatory body that has deemed several doctoral degrees and programmes invalid.

Last month, Legal practitioner Martin Kpebu filed a petition with the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) on behalf of the Swiss Management Centre (SMC) University Alumni Association (Ghana Chapter), calling on the Commission’s Governing Board to intervene in what he terms the “illegal derecognition” of degrees awarded by SMC University, Switzerland.

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).

GTEC has also asked key figures, including the MP for Sekondi, Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah; Chief Executive of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Ken Ashigbey, and Chief Executive of the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), Rashid Tanko-Computer, to refrain from using academic recognitions of ‘Dr.’ and ‘Professor’.