The Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana (ICAG) has rejected claims that the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has the authority to withdraw its recognition or invalidate certificates issued to its members.
In a statement dated January 8, 2026, ICAG described recent publications suggesting otherwise as inaccurate and misleading, insisting that it remains a statutory professional body whose mandate is protected by law.
According to the Institute, its recent correspondence to GTEC was misinterpreted. ICAG clarified that the letter was only meant to notify the Commission of an update to the educational profile of its newly appointed Chief Executive Officer, and not a request for recognition.
“This communication was not, and should not be construed as, a request for recognition from GTEC,” the statement said.
ICAG stressed that under the Institute of Chartered Accountants Act, 2020 (Act 1058), it has the exclusive mandate to award and regulate chartered accountancy qualifications in Ghana, and therefore does not require validation from GTEC to operate.
“For the avoidance of doubt, ICAG does not require recognition from GTEC to validate its existence, authority, or the certificates it issues to qualified members,” the Institute stated.
The professional body further assured its members and stakeholders that all certificates issued by ICAG remain valid and legally protected, regardless of any position taken by GTEC.
“The status, validity, and recognition of ICAG and its certificates remain unaffected by any position taken by GTEC,” the statement noted, urging members to disregard any publications or statements that suggest otherwise.
ICAG also questioned GTEC’s legal standing in the matter, stating categorically that the Commission does not have the legal locus to grant or withdraw recognition from the Institute.
“GTEC has no legal locus to grant, withdraw, or affect the validity of ICAG certificates issued to its members. Any assertion to the contrary is inaccurate and misleading,” it added.
The Institute, however, disclosed that GTEC has subsequently communicated that it has restored ICAG’s recognition, though ICAG maintains that its legal standing was never compromised.
ICAG reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, due process, and the preservation of the integrity of the chartered accountancy profession in Ghana.
