Our Degrees are still recognized world-wide - Spio-Garbrah

Mr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Minister of Education, has said that degrees awarded by Ghanaian universities are still accorded high recognition by academic and industrial concerns worldwide.

He said perceptions may vary on the validity of these degrees by individuals but no accreditation body in the world has withdrawn its recognition. Mr. Spio-Garbrah, who was answering a parliamentary question, said the only known remark made by the National Academic Recognition Centre of the United Kingdom (UK) in 1998 that "since 1996, degrees awarded by Ghanaian universities are of lower standard..." was withdrawn by the same body in 1999.

He quoted the body as saying in a reply to the National Accreditation Board (NAB) as saying: "I would like to inform you that it is our understanding that Bachelor degrees from Ghana are generally considered comparable to British Bachelor degree standard".

Mr. Akwasi Afrifa, NPP-Fomena, had asked the Minister on steps his Ministry was taking to reverse the international de-recognition of the country's degrees. The Minister said the nation's universities have properly accredited programmes that make their products eligible to any academic and professional activity offered them.

On basic and second cycle schools, he said the fact that the international community still supports their development with capital and cash investment shows the confidence they have in them. He said though the Education Reform Programme may have its problems, one should not use just a case or scenario to condemn the entire process.