The Ghana Chapter of the Swiss Management Center (SMC) University Alumni Association has petitioned the Governing Board of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), urging it to overturn what it describes as an “illegal derecognition” of doctoral degrees obtained from the institution.
In a petition submitted through their lawyers, the alumni argue that the recent directive issued under the administration of the current Director-General of GTEC, which purports to declare all SMC University certificates unrecognized, contradicts earlier official positions of GTEC and its predecessor, the National Accreditation Board (NAB).
According to the petition, “Our clients were duly awarded those doctoral degrees by SMC University (Switzerland) after completing the prescribed studies.” The alumni maintain that SMC University was duly registered and recognized as a foreign higher education institution by the former NAB in 2012 and again in 2015, allowing it to run graduate programmes in Ghana.
The petition notes that although the NAB withdrew SMC’s accreditation in 2018 due to home-country registration concerns, it “clearly permitted those already enrolled to complete their studies, thereby recognizing the validity of degrees conferred before that date.” Multiple correspondences issued after the transition from NAB to GTEC are said to have affirmed this position.
However, the alumni say the latest directive has resulted in serious professional setbacks for graduates. “This directive effectively annuls the legitimacy of degrees awarded under valid NAB accreditation. As a result, numerous SMC alumni have suffered serious professional and reputational harm, including demotions, non-recognition of academic titles, and loss of employment opportunities,” the petition states.
Claims of Procedural and Legal Breaches
The group accuses the Commission’s leadership of overstepping its authority. They contend that the directive is “ultra vires” because it was allegedly issued without the approval of the GTEC Governing Board, contrary to the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023).
They further argue that applying the derecognition to degrees earned before 2018 breaches constitutional protections. “The directive seeks to apply retrospectively to degrees lawfully earned years earlier, contrary to established legal principles and best regulatory practices. The Constitution of Ghana (1992) prohibits retrospectivity under Article 107.”
The petition also claims graduates were denied fair hearing: “Our clients, and even the institution concerned, were neither consulted nor afforded a hearing before the directive was issued.”
Reliefs Requested
The Alumni Association is asking the GTEC Board to:
“Set aside the directive issued by the Director-General declaring SMC University degrees derecognized, pending full review by the Board.”
“Reaffirm the validity of degrees obtained under NAB accreditation up to 2018.”
“Issue an official clarification to all employers, professional bodies, and the general public to correct misrepresentations regarding the status of SMC University awards obtained during the valid accreditation period.”
Call for Fairness and Restoration of Confidence
The petition emphasizes that the alumni are not challenging GTEC’s regulatory authority but insist it must be exercised lawfully. “The Alumni Association recognizes and supports the Commission’s mandate to safeguard quality and integrity in higher education. However, such a mandate must be exercised within the confines of law, fairness, and administrative propriety.”
They warn that failure to resolve the issue could deepen public mistrust in higher education regulation and trigger litigation.
