The Global Academy of Finance and Management (GAFM) has rejected its inclusion on the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission’s (GTEC) latest list of unrecognised institutions, arguing that the classification stems from a misunderstanding of its operations.
In a statement responding to publications of the GTEC list, GAFM said it is not a university, does not operate as one and does not award academic degrees.
The organisation explained that it provides industry-focused professional certifications to practitioners in various fields and has trained thousands of professionals across several countries over the past three decades.
According to GAFM, its programmes are professional certifications rather than tertiary academic programmes and therefore, it believes, do not fall within GTEC’s current regulatory mandate.
“For the avoidance of doubt, GTEC’s legal mandate under the laws of Ghana is strictly to accredit tertiary-level institutions and tertiary-level academic programmes (such as two-year diplomas and above).
“The professional certification programmes awarded by GAFM are entirely industry professional certifications. Therefore, they do not fall within the commission’s regulatory jurisdiction,” the statement said.
GAFM further cited several international affiliations and certifications, including ISO quality and training standards, recognition by the U.S. Department of Labor, membership of the Academic Council for the United Nations System (ACUNS) and participation in the United Nations Civil Society network.
The organisation accused GTEC of failing to distinguish between a professional certification body and an academic institution, describing its inclusion on the list as damaging to its reputation.
It said the publication had caused “unwarranted reputational damage” and called on GTEC to immediately withdraw the classification and issue a public apology.
GAFM said it remained open to regulation if GTEC establishes a formal framework for overseeing professional certification bodies.
“GAFM welcomes constructive, lawful regulation but rejects defamatory labeling.”
The organisation has also threatened legal action if the matter is not resolved, saying its legal team has been instructed to commence proceedings against GTEC over alleged defamation, corporate injury and administrative negligence.
GAFM said the legal action would be pursued if GTEC fails to retract the publication and apologise within 14 working days.
Meanwhile, the organisation has urged its members, fellows and certificate holders in Ghana to remain calm, assuring them that it is using legal, diplomatic and administrative channels to resolve the dispute.
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