The Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) has dismissed media reports suggesting that its management is deliberately frustrating PhD students at the School of Public Service and Governance (SPSG) and preventing them from graduating.

In a statement issued on Friday, October 10, and signed by Rector Professor Samuel Kwaku Bonsu, the institute described the reports as “misleading, unfair, and lacking full context.”

According to GIMPA, the allegations misrepresent its commitment to maintaining academic excellence and integrity, especially at the doctoral level.

The statement emphasised that PhD education is not a race against time but a rigorous process requiring originality, research quality, and intellectual discipline.

“Doctoral education by its very nature demands a sustained commitment to high-quality research, originality and intellectual rigour,” the statement read.

“We believe that PhD education is not a race against time but a rigorous process of producing high-quality research that contributes to national development and global scholarship.”

The institute, which began its PhD programme in 2015, said it has since graduated about 35 students — an average of three per year — and continues to refine its academic processes to meet international benchmarks.

To strengthen its academic standards, GIMPA noted that it has introduced several quality-enhancing initiatives, including training and mentorship for faculty, structured doctoral seminars, research methodology workshops, and a more robust peer review process.

A key point of contention, according to the statement, is the introduction of an ad hoc committee by the Academic Board to vet student papers before public presentations.

GIMPA explained that the committee was not meant to alter the PhD structure but to ensure quality assurance and uphold academic standards.

“The ad hoc committee gives feedback to students and supervisors towards improving their work,” the statement said.

“It is a normal peer review mechanism used in academia and should not be misinterpreted as management interference.”

GIMPA said the process has been accepted by all other schools within the institute, except for some doctoral students from the School of Public Service and Governance who view it as an obstacle to their graduation.

The management confirmed that despite efforts to resolve the issue through dialogue, the students have petitioned the Governing Council, and the institution is awaiting the outcome.

Professor Bonsu stressed that GIMPA “cannot compromise on academic integrity by graduating students who have not met the quality standards of a PhD programme.”

He added that new PhD Programme Guidelines have been developed following the committee’s report to ensure clarity and consistency across all doctoral programmes at GIMPA.

“Recognising that the primary currency of any university is the quality of its output, GIMPA remains committed to producing world-class doctoral graduates whose research addresses national and global challenges,” the Rector stated.

GIMPA reaffirmed its dedication to rigour, integrity, and relevance in research while welcoming constructive dialogue with stakeholders to strengthen its systems and uphold the values of academic excellence.