This commentary is based on a report published by the Modern Ghana online news portal, which revealed that a lecturer at the Garden City University College (GCUC) has filed a lawsuit to halt the graduation of certain students alleged to have failed their examinations. The case raises serious concerns about academic integrity and the credibility of higher education in Ghana.
The lawsuit against Garden City University College (GCUC) highlights an unsettling trend that threatens the very foundation of education in Ghana, the growing commercialization of academic institutions. According to the Modern Ghana report, the lecturer’s decision to seek legal redress stems from concerns that some students who did not meet academic requirements are being cleared to graduate.
This development calls into question the ethical standards of certain private universities that appear willing to compromise merit for monetary gain. Education, which should be the cornerstone of competence and nation-building, risks becoming a transactional business where certificates are issued to the highest bidder rather than earned through hard work and merit.
If it is indeed true that the university’s president is aware that some students have failed yet insists on graduating them, then the matter goes beyond administrative oversight, it becomes an issue of public safety and professional ethics. The health sector, where these graduates are expected to work, demands precision, competence, and accountability. Allowing unqualified individuals into such a sensitive field endangers lives and erodes trust in the healthcare system.
This problem, however, is not confined to one institution. The admission and graduation of poorly qualified students have become pervasive across sectors—education, health, security, and beyond. If not checked, this will result in a generation of professionals ill-equipped to handle national responsibilities, leading to long-term damage to Ghana’s human resource quality.
The lecturer’s firm stance against what he considers academic malpractice deserves commendation. It is a reminder that maintaining standards in education is not merely about institutional reputation, but about national safety and development. Universities must not become havens for mediocrity or greed.
Regulatory and accreditation bodies should therefore step in to investigate such practices thoroughly. The court, too, should ensure that all students involved are properly assessed, and only those who have truly met the requirements are allowed to graduate.
Academic integrity must remain the bedrock of Ghana’s education system. When merit is sacrificed for money, society itself becomes the casualty.
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Fred Kuupille
Oct 20, 2025 6:51 pmPlease keep it up OB Francis. This is a nice piece.
Suleman Adams
Oct 22, 2025 2:40 am“Transactional education” as you rightly put it is more prevalent to students transitioning from the second cycle institutions to tertiary education. Sunyani is notoriously tagged as “WASCE Mecca” by many especially students in northern Ghana, particularly ladies. It beats my imagination when students fail subjects that they use three years preparing for, some under far better environments than environments they use less than six months to come out with flying colors. Pathetic!