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Legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has submitted a petition to the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) on behalf of the Swiss Management Centre (SMC) University Alumni Association, Ghana Chapter. He is appealing to the Commission’s Governing Board to intervene in what he terms the “unlawful derecognition” of degrees from SMC University, Switzerland.
In a letter dated October 27, 2025, and addressed to GTEC’s Board Chairman, Kpebu argued that the directive from GTEC’s Director-General, which declared SMC degrees unrecognized, was both procedurally and substantively wrong and violated the principles of fairness, due process, and legitimate expectation.
The petition stated that SMC University was officially accredited by the then National Accreditation Board (NAB) from 2012 to 2018 as a recognized foreign tertiary institution in Ghana. During that time, it offered doctoral and professional programs such as the Doctor of Finance (DFin), Doctor of Management (DoM), and Doctor of Business Administration (DBA).
Kpebu explained that when NAB withdrew SMC’s accreditation in 2018 due to changes in its home-country accreditation status, it still permitted ongoing students to complete their programs and receive valid degrees. He emphasized that several official communications confirmed the legitimacy of these degrees even after accreditation withdrawal.
However, GTEC’s recent directive allegedly overturned those assurances, instructing institutions and employers not to recognize SMC qualifications. The petition described the move as “ultra vires,” saying it was issued without the approval of GTEC’s Governing Board, in violation of the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023).
Kpebu also argued that the directive applied retroactively, which contravenes Article 107 of the 1992 Constitution that forbids retrospective laws. He said it breached the legitimate expectations of graduates who obtained their degrees under valid accreditation and denied them a fair hearing, violating natural justice and due process.
He warned that the decision could cause serious reputational, professional, and psychological damage to many SMC graduates, leading to job losses, demotions, and public misunderstanding of their qualifications.
The petition, therefore, called on the GTEC Board to:
- Suspend the directive for a comprehensive review.
- Reconfirm the validity of SMC degrees earned under NAB accreditation up to 2018.
- Issue an official clarification to employers and the public to correct the misconceptions.
Kpebu concluded that while the Alumni Association supports GTEC’s role in upholding academic standards, the Board must act urgently to protect affected graduates, prevent litigation, and restore public trust in the education system.
