The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has issued a stern warning to universities that admit more doctoral students than their infrastructure can support. Director‑General Professor Ahmed Abdulai Jinapor said the expansion of doctoral programmes must be matched with adequate numbers of qualified supervisors, research facilities, library resources and funding to ensure effective supervision and quality research.
Jinapor delivered the message at the graduation ceremony of the African University of Communication and Business in Accra on Saturday, October 31, where 350 students – 206 undergraduates and 144 postgraduates – received their degrees. He cautioned that the drive to increase enrolment should never compromise academic standards, noting that doctoral qualifications require years of rigorous study, original research and examination and should not be treated as commercial products.
He urged universities, especially newly chartered institutions, to base admissions on actual capacity and to prioritise quality over quantity. On the role of technology, Jinapor said universities must adapt teaching and research approaches to prepare graduates for an increasingly technology‑driven economy, citing artificial intelligence, automation, big data, digital platforms and cybersecurity as key areas. He warned that online, blended and distance learning should not become a means of lowering academic standards and must carry the same value as traditional campus‑based programmes.
GTEC has also intensified public education on recognised institutions and accredited learning centres to protect prospective students from enrolling in unaccredited programmes. In July 2026, the Commission published a notice on 15 unaccredited learning centres and institutions whose accreditation had expired, followed by an updated list of 110 unrecognised institutions in September 2026.
During the ceremony, the university’s Overall Best Graduating Student, Barbara Kafui Abram of the Faculty of Strategic Communication, urged her peers not to let past setbacks discourage them. She said perseverance and the willingness to start again were central to her success, adding, “Never be ashamed of starting again. Starting again is not a failure. It is the courage to pursue a better ending.”
GTEC’s message is clear: growth in doctoral numbers must never outpace capacity, and universities must equip students with the skills to work intelligently with emerging technologies while maintaining independent thinking, integrity and sound judgement.
