The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has shut down 149 open distance learning institutions found to be operating without authorisation and accreditation.

Director-General of GTEC, Professor Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, said most of the affected centres were situated in second-cycle schools already struggling with the double-track system.

“As we speak, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission has flagged down about 149 distance learning centres. These centres are unfit for purpose. They are being run in churches, public works departments, and even electricity company offices. We cannot allow this to happen,” he stated.

Prof. Jinapor, speaking at a two-day capacity-building workshop on Ghana’s Open and Distance Learning (ODL) policy implementation strategies on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, cautioned that such practices undermine the very essence of distance education.

“Ghana has been working hard to promote tertiary education, but unfortunately, distance education seems to be replaced by distancing education,” he noted.

“Replicating traditional classrooms in scattered locations across the country cannot be deemed distance education.”

GTEC has reaffirmed its commitment to upholding quality and strengthening regulation in the delivery of tertiary education across the country.