Management of the University of Ghana says despite the recent findings by the Auditor-General regarding its unaccredited programmes, the certificates issued remain valid.

In a statement dated September 6, the University said it has taken note of the 2021 report of the Auditor-General, in which some of its academic programmes were flagged as unaccredited.

But according to the University, the findings do not in anyway affect the validity of the certificates it has issued in previous years.

While calming public concerns, it disclosed plans of securing approvals for all of its outstanding programmes.

"Management reassures the University community and all our stakeholders that the majority of programmes currently being run at the University, at both undergraduate and graduate level are either fully accredited, or in the process of having their accreditation renewed.

The University has been working closely with the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), to streamline processes in both institutions to ensure that all programmes in the University are restored to good standing within the shortest possible time, and also to rework the structures and procedures for accreditation of programmes", portions of the statement disclosed.

"We assure our students and former students, as well as all stakeholders that all certificates issued by the University of Ghana remain valid, and we commit to work towards regularizing the accreditation status of all our programmes in the short term, and working towards streamlining and automating the accreditation system in the long term", the statement concluded.

Background

The Auditor-General’s 2021 report revealed that 374 academic programmes at the University of Ghana are unaccredited.

Out of the 374 courses, 14 of them are Diploma programmes, 80 out of the 374 programmes are Undergraduate courses, Post-Graduate unaccredited courses are 213, and 67 PhD courses.

According to the Auditors, “The University advertised 374 academic programmes on the various web portals that had the accreditation expired or requires re-accreditation during the period under review".

It further stated that, the running of unaccredited courses is in contrast to Section 36 of the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023) which provides that "a person who runs or advertises a tertiary education programme that is not accredited; commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than ten thousand penalty units and not more than twenty thousand penalty units or a term of imprisonment of not less than 15 years and not more than 20 years, or to both".

The Auditor-General subsequently recommended that the Management of the University should “expedite action for accreditation and re-accreditation of all new and expired academic programmes respectively".

In connection with this recommendation, the University noted in its September 6 release that a desk has been established in the Office of the Registrar dedicated to accreditation-related matters, "as well as continued work towards the automation of accreditation processes".