The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), headed by Prof Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai as the Director-General has been on a campaign with stakeholders in the tertiary educational delivery enterprise to root out unaccredited distant learning centers in Ghana.
GTEC is not only currently facilitating the swift and seamless accreditation of tertiary education programmes through the digitisation of the accreditation infrastructure, known as the Accreditation Management Information System (AMIS), but is also working to enhance the credibility of legitimately earned certificates while addressing concerns related to unearned ones.
The campaign by GTEC to crack down on the misuse of academic titles has generated public discussion.
In May 2025, GTEC issued a final warning after earlier ones directing individuals using honorary doctorate titles and professorships to cease using such titles publicly had been ignored.
Those who were using unearned titles from unaccredited institutions were also advised to stop using them.
The Commission, in reiterating its earlier caution against the use of such titles, pledged to embark on a name and shame campaign if such individuals do not comply.
The directive was especially aimed at politicians, businesspeople, and other public figures who often incorporate honorary titles into their official communications and public engagements.
The Commission described the practice as deceitful and unethical, stressing that it undermines the credibility of the higher education system and devalues the significance of earned doctoral degrees and academic promotions.
Subsequently, from June 2025, the commission started identifying individuals and writing to them privately.
Since June 2025, individuals, the commission says, have flout and continue to use such titles have been publicly named and threatened with legal action if the practice is repeated.
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In some forums, some have sought to question Prof Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai's personal academic credentials for him to lead GTEC on such a campaign.
Last Friday, one Kwame Simpe Ofori [See details on him below], coming under the Right to Information (RTI) Act in a letter dated October 24, 2025, addressed to the Chairman of the GTEC Governing Board requested information on the full details of Prof Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, his academic credentials, publications, and promotion to the rank of professor.
A copy of the letter was shared with Graphic Online on the same day it was written.
Below are details from the said letter
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON THE ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS AND PROFESSORIAL APPOINTMENT OF PROFESSOR AHMED JINAPOR ABDULAI, DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF GTEC
Pursuant to the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), I respectfully submit this request for information regarding the academic credentials of Professor Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, the current Director-General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC).
This request is made in the public interest, guided by the principles of transparency, accountability, and integrity expected of leadership in Ghana’s tertiary-education sector.
Specifically, I seek information on the following:
- The type and title of his terminal academic degree (e.g., PhD, EdD, DPhil, DBA, etc.);
- The awarding institution
- The publications he submitted for the promotion to the rank of Associate Professor
- Clarification as to whether his promotion to the rank of Professor occurred while he was a faculty member at the University of Education, Winneba, or during his secondment to GTEC; and
- Any official records, correspondence, or CV on file with GTEC that confirm these academic credentials.
This request stems from the observation that searches on credible academic databases such as Google Scholar, Scopus, and ResearchGate reveal no record of peer-reviewed research output or scholarly citations attributable to Professor Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai.
As research productivity remains a fundamental requirement for the award of professorial status, clarification on this matter will reinforce confidence in the processes governing academic promotions and appointments within Ghana’s tertiary-education landscape.
I would be grateful if the requested information could be provided within the statutory period prescribed under the Right to Information Act.
Thank you for your kind attention and cooperation.Kwame Simpe Ofori
P.O. Box AH 58
Achimota
Accra
Tel: 0202698188
Email : kwamesimpe@gmail.com
GTEC's response
Following the letter, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission has addressed the concerns.
Through GTEC’s Acting Director of Corporate Affairs, Jerry Sarfo, GTEC responded to the letter same day, October 24, 2025 and indicated, the Director-General has expressed his willingness to provide transparency in the matter [see copy of the statement attached below].
Who is Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai
Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai is the current Director General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, the body that regulates Tertiary Educational Delivery of the Ghanaian Republic.
He started his education at the University of Ghana, Legon, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Religions with first-class Honors.
He was tapped as a Teaching Assistant at the Department of Philosophy at the same university.
He proceeded to Ohio University in the United States of America to pursue a Master of Arts in International Affairs at the same university where he served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the Office of International Relations on scholarship.
After his master's, he was awarded a scholarship to pursue his Doctorate at the College of Human Resources and Education at West Virginia University, also in the United States of America, where he obtained a Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction.
At West Virginia University, Prof Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai earned a scholarship that enabled him to serve in different positions: Visiting Doctoral Fellow; Potomac State College, West Virginia, Graduate Research Fellow; Office of International Relations, West Virginia University, Graduate Teaching Assistant; Multicultural Studies: Research Assistant, State of West Virginia 4-H Youth Development Program.
He also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education from the University of Education, Winneba.
Prof. Jinapor taught at the University of Education, Winneba for more than a decade, during which he served as Head of Department for the Departments of Early Childhood Education and the Education Resource Centre of the same university.
At GTEC, he started as the foundational Deputy Director General, Acting Director General and currently the Director General.
He has brought a lot of innovation to the Tertiary educational delivery space of the Ghanaian Republic by positioning the Commission (GTEC) as an enviable and reputable regulatory agency in the human resource development of the nation.
He has not only facilitated the swift and seamless accreditation of tertiary education programmes through the digitization of the accreditation infrastructure, known as the Accreditation Management Information System (AMIS), but is also working diligently to enhance the credibility of legitimately earned certificates while addressing concerns related to unearned ones.
As part of his efforts in this direction, he has been working tirelessly with the staff of GTEC as well as stakeholders in the Tertiary educational delivery enterprise to root out unaccredited distant learning centers.
Prof Jinapor has served and continues to serve on a number of Governing councils and boards, among which include:
1. The Ghana Immigration Service Board
2. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NACCA
3. The University of Ghana Governing Council
4. The University of Cape Coast Governing Council
5. The University of Education, Winneba Governing Council
6. The GETFUND Board
7. The Governing Board of the National Sports Authority
8. Executive Board Member of PASET
Among many other boards.
Board Members of GTEC
PROF. MAHAMA DUWIEJUA
PROF. AHMED JINAPOR ABDULAI
REV. PROF. JOHN FRANK ESHUN
PROF. DAVID FRED MCBAGONLURI
MRS. MAMLE D. ANDREWS
MR. SAMUEL DANQUAH ARKHURST
MRS. STELLA OTEMA BADU
DR. ISAAC NII MOI THOMPSON
MR. ZAKARIA SULEMANA
DR. BERLINDA GLOVER-DAKE
PROF. EMMANUEL KANCHEBE DERBILE
PROF. ERNEST KOFI DAVIS
DR. ERIC KOFI ADZROE
Who is Kwame Simpe Ofori, the petitioner
A brief gathered on Kwame Simpe Ofori, the petitioner, indicates that he holds a doctorate from the Swiss Management Centre (SMC) University, which he submitted to Ho Technical University but was rejected because of the online nature of the course.
GTEC recently announced that all certificates from SMC are not recognised in Ghana.
Kwame Simpe Ofori was a staff at Ho Technical University and was given study leave to go study for a doctorate in China but reportedly did not return with a certificate.
When the Ho Technical University realized he was delaying completing the programme, he was reminded to report to campus and submit his certificate.
Ho Technical University subsequently reportedly invoked the vacation of the post clause and subsequently disengaged with his services as a staff.
The Auditor-General reportedly flagged his receipt of salary payments during the study leave.
He is currently an Associate Professor at the International University of Grand-Bassam in Côte d'Ivoire
Writer's email: enoch.frimpong@graphic.com.gh
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