A group of PhD students at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) have expressed strong dissatisfaction with what they describe as attempts by the Rector to justify the difficulties facing the institute’s doctoral programme under the pretext of maintaining quality standards.
The Concerned PhD Students of GIMPA said the Rector’s recent public comments misrepresented the realities confronting students and faculty members, particularly within the School of Public Service and Governance.
“We express our disappointment at the Rector’s attempt to justify the difficulties confronting the PhD programme under the guise of quality assurance, in a manner that inadvertently undermines faculty members and supervisors,” the students stated.
In a statement issued in Accra on Monday, the students argued that the PhD programme is originally structured to last three years. Still, many candidates have spent between seven and ten years without completion.
“This prolonged duration should be a matter of grave concern to the Rector if competence and results are priorities for the Institute,” they said.
The statement also took issue with the Rector’s decision to dissolve the Graduate School — the coordinating body for all postgraduate programmes — calling it a unilateral move that violates both the Governing Council’s directive and the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission’s (GTEC) requirements.
This action, which reportedly stemmed from personal differences, directly contravenes GTEC’s rule that all universities offering graduate programmes must maintain a Graduate School,” the students noted.
They further criticised the establishment of multiple committees and the introduction of a Gatekeeper process within the Deputy Rector’s office, which they claim has created needless bureaucratic bottlenecks.
“The so-called Gatekeeper process requires additional vetting, pre-viva sessions, and clearances, extending thesis processing by an average of three years,” the statement alleged.
The group also refuted the Rector’s claim that 35 students had graduated from the PhD programme, insisting that only 17 have completed their studies since the programme began in 2014.
“It is misleading to suggest that thirty-five students have graduated… Those who have abandoned the programme far outnumber those who have graduated,” they argued.
While pledging respect for institutional processes, the students cautioned against administrative actions that “frustrate students or use them as collateral in internal disputes.”
They posed four direct questions to the Rector, including how long it took him personally to complete his PhD and whether he is satisfied that only 17 out of more than 100 admitted students have graduated.
“Are you concerned that under your leadership, GIMPA risks becoming a ghost community?” the statement queried.
The students called on the Governing Council, faculty, alumni, and the general public to intervene to safeguard the integrity and reputation of GIMPA.
“We call on all stakeholders to take a keen interest in these matters to ensure that students receive fair treatment in pursuit of their academic goals,” they appealed.
