Accreditation Challenges in Transnational Educational Ecology: The Ghanaian Experience

Dr. Prosper Yao Tsikata & Dr. A. Kobla Dotse

Ghana Embassy, Washington, DC

][ Story Board

• Introduction and statement of problem

• Comparative review of national accreditation

• Earned (residency and online) versus honorary degrees

• Comparative purposive sampling technique

• Analysis

• Impact and recommendations

• Discussion and conclusions

][ Introduction and statement of problem

• Sixty-one percent unqualified tertiary professors in Ghana

• Ghana National Accreditation Board Act 2007 (Act 744)

• Continental dimension of the problem

The Case of South Africa

Pallo Jordan Johnny Molefe

The Case of South Africa

Ellen Tshabalala Mohau Pheko

The Case of Nigeria

Stella Odua (Prof.) David Iornem

][ Comparative Review of National Accreditation

• Accreditation in the US—the US Department of Education’s Office of

Postsecondary Education (OPE) and accreditation agencies

• Accreditation in the UK—Royal Charter, Act of Parliament, Privy

Council and the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education

(QAA)

• Ghana National Accreditation Board (NAB)

][ Types of Doctoral Degrees

][ Comparative Purposive Sampling Technique

• Institutions with questionable accreditation status

• Individuals associated with such institutions

• Institutions and individuals must be news

][ Central Questions

Institutions and Persons

Atlantic International University, Hawaii (Dr.) Hassan Ayariga

• Not accredited by the OPE

• Listed as unaccredited by the NAB

• Faced Consumer Protection law

suit as unaccredited

Institutions and Persons

Dayspring Christian University & Affiliates Individuals Associated

• Discredited by NAB September 18,

2014

• (Dr.) Kwesi Appiah’s (Ghana’s

2014 World Cup Coach) landmark

precedent

• (Dr.) Sherry Ayittey

• (Dr.) Kofi Portuphy

• (Dr.) Gilbert Abeiku Aggrey

• (Dr.) Gifty Anti

• (Dr.) Bernard Otabil

• (Dr.) John Kudalor (IGP)

Images of Individuals

(Dr.) John Kudalor, IGP (Dr.) Kofi Portuphy & (Dr.) Sherry Ayittey (middle)

Images of Individuals

(Dr.) Abeiku Aggrey (Dr.) Bernard Otabil

Institutions and Persons

Almeda College/University Aquinas Tawiah Quansah (B.A.)

• Unaccredited by the OPE

• Boast Council for Distance Education,

Interfaith Education Ministry &

Association for Online Academic

Excellence accreditations

• Folded up

Institutions and Persons

American Century University Dzifa Aku Ativor (BS.c. & M.A.)

• Unaccredited by the OPE

• Classified diploma mill

(Foreign Credits

International Experts, 2013)

Institutions and Persons

European-American University (Dr.) Bernice Adiku Heloo

• A corporate charter granted by

Commonwealth of Dominica

• Royal Charter HM Omukama of

Bunyoro-Kitara of Uganda

• Royal Charter HRH, Chief of

Gomoa Nyanyano

Institutions and Persons

St. Thomas A-Bucket University Canterbury

(Dr.) Patrick Kobla Agboba or HRM Hon. (Dr.) Togbui Sri III

• Not listed among recognized

bodies in the UK

• A non-existent institution

Institutions and Persons

Swiss Management Center (SMC) Individuals Associated

• Unaccredited by the Swiss

Accreditation Council (SAC)

• Accreditation Council for Business

Schools and Programs (ACBSP), not an

accredited agency of OPE

• ACBSP accredit programs, not

institutions

• (Prof. Dr. Dr.) Goski Alabi, UPS

• (Dr.) John Gatsi, UCC

• (Dr.) Tetteh Nettey

• And many others

Institutions and Persons

Rev. (Prof. Dr. Dr.) Mrs. Goski Alabi (Dr.) John Gatsi

Institutions and Persons

University of Dublin & University of California

(Dr.) Theophilus Tay (aka Theophilus Worgbale)

• University of California exist

• It is accredited

• The individual is not associated

• University of Dublin, California, is

an unaccredited diploma mill

Institutions and Persons

(Dr.) Samson Effah-Apraku (Dr.) Nana Yaa Jantuah

][ Observations

• General Observations

• Contravention of NAB Act 2007 (Act 744)

• European-American University and the Chief of Gomoa Nyanyano

• Undermining trust among educational institutions

• Conflict of interest and public risk

• Working tool versus ornamental

][ Observations

• Uncritical-propaganda-dogged media

• Free media ecology

• Conducting a search on claimants

• Daily Graphic an accessory in perpetuating illegality

][ Observations

• Unquestioning Public

• The Ghanaian form of interpellation

• A critical mind or a “hater?”

• The narrative of a watchman who becomes a doctor

• The deafening silence of academia

][ Observations

• University Registrar’s Office

• University administrative hub

• Background checks and due diligence

Impacts and Recommendations

Impacts Recommendations

• Poor training and rippling effects

• Wages for bad work done

• The marathon race

• Rules and regulations

• Bad public sector policies

• Dissolution of NAB

• Prosecutory powers for NAB

• Educational attaché

• Initiate mentoring processes

• Wholesale background checks

Discussion and Conclusion

Discussion Conclusions

• Individual responsibility

• Why online degree from

Nicaragua?

• The question of double doctorate

• Excellent institutions and the law

• Variations in accreditation

• Weak accreditation system in Ghana

• Individuals and institutions take

advantage

• Wholesale and regular audit

][ Afterword for Non-Academic Reader

• Non-academic readers go to page 16 of document for a case-by-case

examination of the institutions and individuals identified in this report.

Then, do the following:

I. Place the name of the institution into Google and find out all there is about it.

II. Place the name of the individuals listed in the report into Google and establish the

connection.

III. Draw your own conclusions and begin to have a conversation with a friend, a family member,

your employer, and just anyone close to you.