Professor Agyemang Slams GTEC Over “Administrative Lapses” and Lack of Clear Regulations
Professor (Dr. Dr. Dr.) Joseph Kwasi Agyemang, Extraordinary Professor of Accounting Sciences at the University of South Africa and Head of the Accounting and Finance Department at the University of Eswatini, has sharply criticized the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) for its lack of detailed regulations.
According to Professor Agyemang, while GTEC has the legal authority to regulate academic titles, the absence of specific, well-defined rules makes enforcement appear arbitrary, a system that operates on a “we say so” basis rather than following established procedures.
He expressed concern about inconsistencies in the process, particularly the blacklisting of institutions that had previously been evaluated, which could have serious legal and financial consequences. He questioned why certificates already assessed by GTEC or its predecessor, the National Accreditation Board (NAB), are being subjected to re-evaluation.
“There appear to be administrative lapses within the system. It would be better to equip GTEC with qualified personnel who have a solid understanding of university operations and accreditation processes, both locally and internationally,” he said.
Professor Agyemang argued that it makes little sense for GTEC to demand re-evaluation of credentials already assessed, or to blacklist institutions it had previously endorsed, declaring all certificates from such institutions invalid retroactively.
He stressed that Ghanaians who sacrificed to earn their degrees should not bear the brunt of past administrative oversights by NAB or GTEC. He admonished GTEC to exercise due diligence before blacklisting institutions genuinely accredited and recognized abroad, cautioning that wrongful blacklisting could create conflicts in certificate recognition between Ghana and other countries.
He further contended that if GTEC requires certificate re-evaluation, the commission should bear the cost, as applicants cannot be penalized twice for errors originating from GTEC’s own oversight.
The professor also warned that the lack of clear, universally applied rules opens the process to accusations of selectivity or even a “witch hunt” against specific political figures or groups. He emphasized that re-examining decisions previously made by NAB creates complex situations for individuals who advanced academically based on credentials now deemed invalid by GTEC.
“GTEC should issue clear guidelines to all higher education institutions and the public on accredited institutions and proper title usage to promote transparency and accountability,” he said.
Addressing the risk of legitimate scholars being targeted while impostors are pursued, Professor Agyemang highlighted that challenging credentials, especially from foreign or private institutions, could result in a legitimate scholar being publicly questioned or wrongly labeled an impostor due to misinterpretation of records or administrative oversight. Such scrutiny, he warned, can inflict lasting reputational damage even if later corrected.
“Critics are calling for a stronger emphasis on due process and fairness in investigations, warning that if GTEC’s directives are seen as arbitrary or lack a transparent system for verification and appeal, legitimate scholars could feel their titles and careers are at risk from sudden challenges and unproven allegations,” he added.