ACCREDITATION CHALLENGES IN TRANSNATIONAL EDUCATIONAL ECOLOGY THE GHANAIAN

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 Postsecondary Education (OPE) and accreditation agencies • ] Accreditation in the US—the US Department of Education’s Office of 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 Earnedresidential degrees Doctoral Degrees Honoris Causa Earned online degrees ]

[ Comparative Purposive Sampling Technique • Institutions with questionable accreditation status • Individuals associated with such institutions • Institutions and individuals must be news ]

[ Central Questions. What is the accreditation status of institutions elected for analysis? 1 2. Who are the individuals associated with these institutions? ] What are the motives of these individuals for acquiring these awards/degrees? 3.

Institutions and Persons Atlantic International University, Hawaii • Not accredited by the OPE • Listed as unaccredited by the NAB • Faced Consumer Protection law suit as unaccredited (Dr. ) Hassan Ayariga

Institutions and Persons Dayspring Christian University & Affiliates Individuals Associated • (Dr. ) Sherry Ayittey • Discredited by NAB September 18, 2014 • (Dr. ) Kwesi Appiah’s (Ghana’s • (Dr. ) Kofi Portuphy • (Dr. ) Gilbert Abeiku Aggrey • (Dr. ) Gifty Anti 2014 World Cup Coach) landmark • (Dr. ) Bernard Otabil precedent • (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 • Unaccredited by the OPE • Boast Council for Distance Education, Interfaith Education Ministry & Association for Online Academic Excellence accreditations • Folded up Aquinas Tawiah Quansah (B. A. )

Institutions and Persons American Century University • Unaccredited by the OPE • Classified diploma mill (Foreign Credits International Experts, 2013) Dzifa Aku Ativor (BS. c. & M. A. )

Institutions and Persons European-American University • A corporate charter granted by Commonwealth of Dominica • Royal Charter HM Omukama of Bunyoro-Kitara of Uganda • Royal Charter HRH, Chief of Gomoa Nyanyano (Dr. ) Bernice Adiku Heloo

Institutions and Persons St. Thomas A-Bucket University Canterbury • Not listed among recognized bodies in the UK • A non-existent institution (Dr. ) Patrick Kobla Agboba or HRM Hon. (Dr. ) Togbui Sri III

Institutions and Persons Swiss Management Center (SMC) Individuals Associated • Unaccredited by the Swiss Accreditation Council (SAC) • Accreditation Council for Business • (Prof. Dr. ) Goski Alabi, UPS • (Dr. ) John Gatsi, UCC Schools and Programs (ACBSP), not an accredited agency of OPE • ACBSP accredit programs, not institutions • (Dr. ) Tetteh Nettey • And many others

Institutions and Persons Rev. (Prof. Dr. ) Mrs. Goski Alabi (Dr. ) John Gatsi

Institutions and Persons University of Dublin & University of California • University of California exist • It is accredited • The individual is not associated • University of Dublin, California, is an unaccredited diploma mill (Dr. ) Theophilus Tay (aka Theophilus Worgbale)

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 • Dissolution of NAB • Wages for bad work done • Prosecutory powers for NAB • The marathon race • Educational attaché • Rules and regulations • Initiate mentoring processes • Bad public sector policies • Wholesale background checks

Discussion and Conclusion Discussion Conclusions • Variations in accreditation • Individual responsibility • Weak accreditation system in Ghana • Why online degree from Nicaragua? • Individuals and institutions take advantage • The question of double doctorate • Wholesale and regular audit • Excellent institutions and the law

[ ] 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.