Accra, June 15, GNA – The Adentan High Court has annulled a directive issued by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) that sought to invalidate qualifications obtained from the Universidad Empresarial de Costa Rica (UNEM) for use in Ghana’s tertiary education sector.
The ruling, delivered by Justice Kwame Gyamfi, declared the directive unlawful and affirmed the validity of UNEM qualifications obtained before its issuance, a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency said on Sunday.
GTEC’s directive, issued on November 5, 2025, instructed all public tertiary institutions not to recognise UNEM qualifications for teaching, appointment, promotion and other academic purposes, triggering concern among affected academics and professionals.
The case was brought by a group of university academics and professionals whose academic qualifications and career progression had been adversely affected by the directive.
Represented by counsel Solomon Faakye, the applicants argued that GTEC acted unlawfully by retrospectively invalidating qualifications that had previously been recognised and relied upon for appointments, promotions, teaching and other academic purposes.
They further contended that the Commission failed to follow the legal procedures governing the suspension or withdrawal of accreditation and recognition under the applicable regulatory framework.
The applicants also maintained that GTEC’s actions violated principles of natural justice, fairness, legitimate expectation and administrative legality.
In its judgment, the Court held that statutory bodies such as GTEC must operate strictly within the powers granted to them by law.
It found that both the directive and the processes leading to its issuance were legally flawed and could not justify the adverse consequences imposed on affected degree holders.
Consequently, the Court declared the directive unlawful, invalid and of no legal effect.
It further held that qualifications obtained before the issuance of the directive remained valid and could not be invalidated retrospectively.
The Court also quashed the directive and restrained GTEC from enforcing it against affected persons.
Additionally, it directed tertiary institutions that had acted on the directive or taken adverse decisions against holders of UNEM qualifications to reverse such actions.
In recent months, GTEC has intensified efforts to clamp down on what it describes as fake, unaccredited or improperly used academic qualifications and honorary titles.
The UNEM directive formed part of that broader regulatory campaign.
The judgment is expected to have significant implications for universities, public institutions and regulators, particularly in matters relating to appointments, promotions, confirmations and academic recognition.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter: Joyce DansoÂ
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