How to Verify a Ghanaian University or Program Is Accredited by GTEC
By Muntasir • Published Jun 26, 2026 • Updated Aug 08, 2026 • Guides
The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) checks institutions and programs separately, so a real institution might still run a program that was never accredited. Search both on gtec.edu.gh before you apply or pay any fee.
🎓 GTEC replaced the old National Accreditation Board and National Council for Tertiary Education.
📩 GTEC publishes a downloadable list of institutions with active accreditation on its website.
💵 GTEC named 70 unrecognised institutions operating in Ghana and abroad in a public notice in May 2026.
⏱️ Institutional and program accreditation both expire, so check the dates shown, not only the name.
What GTEC regulates
The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) is the single regulator for all tertiary education in Ghana: public universities, technical universities, private universities and colleges. GTEC formed from a merger of the former National Accreditation Board and the National Council for Tertiary Education, so any older accreditation certificate carrying the NAB name should be treated as outdated and checked against GTEC's current records.
GTEC runs two separate approvals that students often confuse. Institutional accreditation confirms the college itself is legally allowed to operate as a tertiary institution. Program accreditation confirms a specific degree, diploma or certificate at that institution meets curriculum and staffing standards. An institution sometimes holds accreditation while one of its programs does not, particularly with newly launched courses.
How to check institutional accreditation
Get the exact registered name of the institution, since some colleges advertise under a shortened or unofficial name.
Visit gtec.edu.gh and locate the current list of institutions with active accreditation.
Search the GTEC list of accredited institutions for the exact name.
Check the accreditation status and validity dates listed against the institution, since accreditation lapses if not renewed.
How to check program accreditation
Institutional accreditation does not guarantee every program at that institution is accredited. Ask admissions for the program's accreditation letter and the exact program title as registered with GTEC, then confirm the same title and level appear in GTEC's program-level records. If the admissions office cannot produce a program-specific accreditation letter separate from the institution's general certificate, treat that as a warning sign rather than proceed on trust.
Watch for GTEC's unrecognised institutions notices
GTEC periodically publishes public notices naming institutions it considers unrecognised, including ones operating inside Ghana and Ghanaian-branded institutions abroad. In a notice dated May 28, 2026, GTEC named 70 unrecognised institutions and warned that certificates issued by these bodies risk being rejected for academic or professional purposes. Check the latest notices on GTEC's website even if an institution's name sounds familiar or its campus looks established, since some unrecognised operators run real buildings and real classes without a valid accreditation behind them.
Red flags before you pay
The institution cannot produce a program-specific GTEC accreditation letter, only a general operating permit.
Marketing calls the program "government approved" without naming GTEC specifically.
The institution's name is a close variation of a well known accredited university.
Staff discourage you from checking the GTEC website yourself or claim the list is outdated.
Save a screenshot or downloaded copy of the accreditation record you find, dated the day you checked. Accreditation status changes between your research and your admission date, so recheck close to when you pay fees rather than relying on information gathered months earlier.