PNP petitions GTEC to audit certificates of appointees and public sector workers

The People’s National Party (PNP) has officially petitioned the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to carry out a nationwide audit of academic certificates held by appointees under the administration of President John Dramani Mahama, as well as all public sector employees.

The call, outlined in a formal letter addressed to GTEC Director-General Professor Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, was made by the party’s Chairperson, Janet Nabla.

In the petition, the PNP raised serious concerns about the increasing prevalence of fake academic credentials in Ghana’s public institutions, stressing the need for a rigorous verification process.

The party urged GTEC to scrutinise all types of academic qualifications — including diplomas, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees — with specific attention to those obtained from foreign universities.

“The widespread use of fake certificates not only undermines the integrity of our educational system but also erodes public trust in governance and the credibility of our institutions,” the statement said.

To support this effort, the PNP recommended that GTEC establish a centralised and publicly accessible database of verified certificates issued by accredited institutions.

They also proposed the introduction of a “GTEC Monitoring and Evaluation Fee” to be paid by tertiary students to fund this initiative.

“A country that fails to scrutinise the educational background of its leaders and workforce is bound to face persistent economic and governance challenges,” the party stated.

The petition follows recent GTEC directives asking certain officials and public figures to cease using unverified academic titles such as “Dr” and “Prof.”