The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), in exercising its regulatory authority, has shut down the Royal Nursing College at Tafo Nyhiaeso in the Ashanti Region over non-compliance with regulatory directives.
Documents available to the Daily Graphic reveal that both the GTEC and the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), the supervisory professional body, have revoked the institution’s licences.
When GTEC announced the closure with immediate effect, many visibly shocked students broke down in tears as course mates attempted to console them.
The action was taken after management of the institute failed to provide the required documentation to confirm the institution’s accreditation status.
The accreditation of the institution, according to GTEC, expired on December 16, 2021 and, “since that time, multiple reminders from GTEC Secretariat urging your institution to initiate the institutional re-accreditation went unheeded,” a letter dated August 1, 2025 and addressed to the proprietor of the school and sighted by the Daily Graphic, stated.
An earlier correspondence also sighted by the Daily Graphic, addressed to the proprietor of the institution, dated June 7, 2024, directed the institution to cease fresh admissions, warning that, “going against this directive will attract the necessary sanctions from the commission.”
Under the Education Regulatory Bodies Act 2020 (Act 1023), “a person who operates a tertiary institution or runs a tertiary education programme that is accredited, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than 10,000 penalty units and not more than 20,000 penalty units or to a term of imprisonment of not less than 15 years and not more than 20 years or to both.”
Fresh Admissions
However, after the numerous correspondence from GTEC directing the institution to cease fresh admission, a facility inspection carried out last Thursday revealed that as of January 2026, the institution admitted new students into level 100.
Ordinarily, the institute was not supposed to have Level 100 and Level 200 students. Currently, however, it has 272 Level 100 students and 320 Level 200 students.
GTEC stated that the college had not only flouted its directives but also lacked accreditation from the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
The institution, which runs Diploma in Registered General Nursing programmes, has a total enrolment of 802 students.
With the closure affecting the Level 100 and 200 students, the remaining 210 students are expected to continue their studies under the guidance of the affiliated university, the University of Cape Coast (UCC).
Implications
Explaining the rationale for the shutdown of the institution, the GTEC said it was necessary to protect the students and uphold educational regulations.
It further explained that since the institution was not accredited by GTEC and was unrecognised by the NMC, students risked completing their programmes without valid certification.
GTEC used the opportunity to advise the students to always check the accreditation status of any tertiary institution before seeking admission.
Officials of GTEC were accompanied by three Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers from the Ashanti Regional Police Command to conduct an inspection of the campus.
The inspection revealed a lack of proper documentation and inadequate lecture rooms.
At the time of the visit, Level 100 students were attending lectures in a packed auditorium without tables and proper chairs.
Their situation was compounded by a power outage, forcing students to use their books as improvised fans.
After the inspection, the wife of the owner of the school and some management members were picked up by CID officers.
Officials indicated that they would push for the prosecution of the owner, Ken Owusu.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh