The Acting Director-General of the National Service Authority (NSA), Felix Gyamfi, has cautioned prospective and current tertiary students to ensure that their institutions are accredited by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) before enrolling.

This warning comes after over 3,500 graduates from 22 unaccredited tertiary institutions were disqualified from participating in the 2025/2026 national service programme.

According to the NSA, these institutions do not have valid accreditation from GTEC.

Speaking in an interview with Adom News, Mr. Gyamfi stressed that national service is strictly reserved for graduates of recognised and accredited institutions.

“We are not against any institution,” he said. “But the right thing must be done. If your school is not accredited by GTEC, there is no way you will be allowed to undertake national service.”

He clarified that the NSA is only enforcing existing policies and not introducing any new regulations.

“This is not something new we are implementing. This is how it has always been. We are only ensuring that the law is followed,” he explained.

Mr. Gyamfi also raised concerns about the growing number of institutions operating without proper authorisation.

“Some institutions just wake up and start operating without going through the proper accreditation process,” he stated. “Not every tertiary institution can just start a course or issue certificates without the approval of GTEC and other relevant bodies.”

He urged students and parents to verify the accreditation status of institutions with GTEC before enrolling, and encouraged school proprietors to comply with regulatory procedures when establishing and running tertiary institutions.

“We’re calling on school owners to follow the right processes. This crackdown is not just to enforce compliance but also to ensure quality and protect students’ futures,” he added.

The NSA’s move forms part of a broader effort to sanitise the education sector and safeguard the integrity of Ghana’s national service system.