BY Nadia Ntiamoah
The Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana (ICAG) has had its recognition restored by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), following a period of suspension triggered by concerns over the academic credentials of its newly appointed Chief Executive Officer, Eric Oduro Osae.
The temporary withdrawal of recognition, announced in early January 2026, arose from GTEC’s finding that Oduro Osae had used an unearned doctoral title in public communications, despite prior directives to desist.
In October 2025, GTEC had investigated the academic certificates submitted by Osae from the Swiss Management Centre (SMC) and Universidad Central de Nicaragua (UCN) and determined that they were invalid and not recognised under the tertiary education framework.
The Commission’s investigations highlighted inconsistencies including unverifiable course classifications, unclear grading structures, and uncertainty about the legitimacy of the awarding institutions.
Conflicting claims regarding a purported doctorate from the University of London further compounded concerns.
Following these findings, GTEC directed ICAG to immediately stop using the title “Dr.” and warned that continued noncompliance would result in the withdrawal of recognition.
On January 8, 2026, the Commission confirmed that ICAG had taken corrective measures to address the breaches, including updating its communications to remove misleading academic claims.
GTEC, in a letter signed by Director of Corporate Affairs Jerry Sarfo on behalf of the Director-General, Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, expressed satisfaction with the remedial actions and restored ICAG’s recognition with immediate effect.
All professional certificates issued by ICAG from the date of restoration are now fully recognised.
ICAG had initially faced public scrutiny when it announced Oduro Osae’s appointment as CEO, describing him as a chartered accountant, lawyer, governance expert, and holder of a Doctorate in Political Economy.
The profile, which included the disputed doctoral title, prompted GTEC’s swift intervention.
The Commission emphasized that the restoration of recognition was contingent on the resolution of the breaches and reaffirmed the importance of maintaining credibility and integrity within the professional accountancy sector.
GTEC also congratulated Oduro Osae on his appointment and wished him success in leading the Institute.
The restoration ends a brief but high-profile suspension that had raised concerns among accounting professionals and stakeholders about the legitimacy of ICAG certifications.
