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The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has officially declared that the doctorate degree held by the Member of Parliament for Yilo Krobo, Albert Nyarkotey, is not recognized in Ghana for either academic or professional use. The development has reignited the national debate about the authenticity of foreign-acquired degrees and the proliferation of unaccredited institutions issuing doctoral titles. In a statement dated October 20, 2025, GTEC revealed that Nyarkotey’s Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA), obtained from the Swiss Management Centre (SMC) University in 2022, does not meet the standards for recognition under the tertiary education framework. The Commission further clarified that a related Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) jointly awarded by Universidad Central de Nicaragua (UCN) and SMC University is also invalid for official recognition within the country. GTEC’s latest directive follows growing public concern and numerous inquiries about the accreditation status of some foreign universities offering online or hybrid doctoral programmes — many of which have been found to operate without proper authorization. “The Commission wishes to inform all Heads of Tertiary Institutions that it does not recognize the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) awarded by the Swiss Management Centre University and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) jointly awarded by Universidad Central de Nicaragua (UCN) and Swiss Management Centre University,” the statement emphasized. Albert Nyarkotey, a first-term legislator and member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Energy, has often been described as one of the new faces of technocratic leadership in Parliament. His academic credentials, especially his 2022 doctorate in management, have been publicly cited in parliamentary profiles and constituency communications. However, questions began to emerge earlier this year when education sector analysts and watchdog groups started probing the legitimacy of certain foreign-accredited doctoral institutions that were offering degrees at significantly reduced durations and costs. Among the institutions repeatedly mentioned in public discussions was the Swiss Management Centre (SMC), headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, and its academic partnership with the Universidad Central de Nicaragua (UCN). The controversy deepened after GTEC released an updated list of 50 unrecognized universities and colleges worldwide, warning that degrees from those institutions carry no academic or professional weight in Ghana. Both SMC University and UCN-SMC joint programmes featured prominently on that list. Wider List of Affected Institutions The comprehensive list also includes several other institutions across Europe, Asia, and Africa, such as: Universidad Azteca (Mexico) Atlantic International University (USA) Faith University Seminary (Ghana) Selinus University of Sciences and Literature (Italy) Monarch Business School (Switzerland) Doxa Open University (Ghana) Akamai University (Hawaii, USA) California Creek University (USA) GTEC stated that the new publication supersedes all prior communications from both the defunct National Accreditation Board (NAB) and GTEC itself, effectively reaffirming the government’s zero-tolerance stance toward unaccredited tertiary institutions. Implications for Public Officials and Degree Holders According to the Commission, individuals who have obtained postgraduate qualifications — particularly those using the “PhD” or “Dr.” title — from any of the unrecognized institutions must refrain from using such titles in official or public settings. The directive also extends to politicians, academics, and public servants who have been using unverified credentials in their resumes, academic submissions, or professional profiles. GTEC has further urged employers, government agencies, and tertiary institutions to verify the accreditation status of all qualifications before accepting them for employment, promotions, or further studies.
