The Director-General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, has raised concerns about the credibility of doctorate degrees awarded to Ghanaians by several foreign institutions, noting that many are not accredited.
According to Prof. Jinapor, investigations by GTEC have uncovered individuals using unaccredited or questionable academic titles, as well as some Ghanaian universities operating without proper authorization.
Speaking on TV3 on Sunday, December 14, 2025, he said the Commission’s findings indicate that the operations of many foreign institutions awarding these degrees are highly questionable.
He explained that some certificates claimed to have been obtained from such institutions are invalid, as the processes through which they were awarded do not meet acceptable academic standards. Many of these institutions, mostly based outside Ghana, lack the necessary accreditation.
Prof. Jinapor added that the cases made public represent only a small portion of the individuals GTEC has investigated over questionable doctorate degrees. He said most of those engaged by the Commission, after understanding the implications of their actions, willingly stop using the unaccredited or honorary titles.
He dismissed suggestions that GTEC’s actions are driven by personal vendettas, stressing that the Commission engages individuals privately through meetings and official correspondence before taking any public action.
According to him, the majority of those contacted have complied with GTEC’s directives, with only a few refusing to heed the advice. He emphasized that the Commission’s mandate is to protect the integrity of Ghana’s tertiary education system, not to target individuals.
