GES PRO Calls for Paradigm Shift in GTEC’s Public Communication Strategy
GES PRO Calls for Paradigm Shift in GTEC’s Public Communication Strategy
The Head of Public Relations at the Ghana Education Service (GES), Daniel Fenyi, has issued a compelling appeal to the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to fundamentally reconsider how it communicates the status of tertiary institutions to the Ghanaian public. Rather than continuing to focus public attention primarily on lists of unaccredited and unrecognized schools, Fenyi advocates for a strategic pivot toward the regular, prominent publication of a comprehensive register of accredited institutions.
Fenyi’s statement, disseminated via social media on Wednesday, June 25, 2026, acknowledges that GTEC’s recent release of a list of unaccredited institutions serves a purpose in alerting the public to potential risks. However, he contends that such lists are inherently limited due to the constant emergence of new educational providers, which can render warnings outdated and incomplete almost immediately after publication.
“Thank you for publishing the list of unaccredited institutions, but I think you should rather publish accredited institutions,” Fenyi stated, noting that accredited institutions are already systematically recorded within GTEC’s internal databases. This existing infrastructure, he argued, would facilitate easier maintenance and regular updates of an accredited register compared to the perpetual challenge of tracking every unaccredited entity.
The core of Fenyi’s argument rests on the verification burden placed on students and families. A list of unaccredited institutions, by its nature, cannot be exhaustive. New institutions may launch without accreditation and escape inclusion in periodic warnings, potentially leading unsuspecting students to enroll in illegitimate programs. Conversely, an authoritative list of accredited institutions would simplify due diligence: if an institution does not appear on the approved register, it should be presumed unaccredited.
Fenyi warned that relying solely on unaccredited lists risks creating a false sense of legitimacy. Members of the public might assume that any institution not explicitly named on a warning list has received official approval, even when no such accreditation exists. This misconception could inadvertently endorse substandard or fraudulent educational providers.
While recognizing the immediate value of public alerts about unaccredited institutions, Fenyi maintained that a more effective long-term strategy involves promoting accredited institutions and ensuring their status is readily accessible. He emphasized that students and parents would be better equipped to make informed decisions with a trusted, official register at their disposal, allowing them to clearly understand the risks associated with choosing an institution lacking accreditation.
The call comes amid ongoing public discourse about transparency in Ghana’s tertiary education sector. GTEC has periodically issued warnings about unrecognized institutions, both domestic and international, citing concerns over accreditation status, governance, academic standards, and regulatory compliance. Recent lists have included notable foreign universities and local entities such as Debest College of Science, Arts and Business, Faith University Seminary, and Doxa Open University, among others.
Education experts have long debated the most effective methods to protect students from diploma mills and substandard institutions. Some advocate for punitive measures against unaccredited providers, while others, like Fenyi, stress the importance of empowering consumers through accessible, positive information about legitimate options.
As Ghana continues to expand its higher education landscape, with increasing numbers of students seeking tertiary qualifications, the demand for clear, reliable information about institution status grows. The proposal to shift focus from naming unaccredited schools to celebrating and disseminating information about accredited ones represents a proactive approach to consumer protection in the education sector.
Image Source: MYJOYONLINE
