The People’s National Party (PNP) has formally petitioned the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to conduct a thorough audit of academic certificates held by appointees in the administration of President John Dramani Mahama, as well as all public sector workers.
In a statement addressed to GTEC Director-General, Professor Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, the Chairperson and leader of the party, Janet Nabla, called for a comprehensive verification of all categories of academic qualifications — including diplomas, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees — with particular emphasis on those obtained from foreign institutions.
The party expressed concern over what it described as a growing trend of fraudulent academic credentials in public institutions, warning that this practice threatens the credibility of Ghana’s education system and weakens public trust in governance.
“The widespread use of fake certificates not only undermines the integrity of our educational system but also erodes public trust in governance and the credibility of our institutions,” the letter stated.
To enhance transparency, the PNP is also urging GTEC to establish a secure, centralised, and publicly accessible database of verified academic qualifications issued by accredited institutions in Ghana.
This, the party believes, would enable both public and private employers to confirm the authenticity of credentials before making recruitment or appointment decisions.
As part of a proposed funding model, the party is recommending the introduction of a “GTEC Monitoring and Evaluation Fee” — a mandatory levy to be paid by all tertiary-level students — to sustain nationwide assessment and verification efforts.
“A country that fails to scrutinise the educational background of its leaders and workforce is bound to face persistent economic and governance challenges. Individuals who resort to fake certifications demonstrate a lack of integrity, and no nation can develop on the foundation of deceit,” the statement added.
The PNP’s call comes at a time when GTEC has, in recent months, written to several government officials and public figures, directing them to stop using the title “Dr” or “Prof” due to a lack of verified academic justification.
Those affected include the CEO of the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), Rashid Tanko-Computer; President of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), Dr. Joseph Obeng; and the Member of Parliament for Gomoa East, Desmond De-Graft Paitoo.
