The Concerned PhD Students of have hit back at the Rector for the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Prof. Samuel Kwaku Bonsu over his claims as a reasons for their graduation delays.
According to the students the PhD programme designed for a specified period of three (3) years but many students have remained in the programme for between seven (7) and ten (10) years.
In a statement the affected students questioned the posture of the Rector in justifying his poor handling of post graduate programmes. “The prolonged duration should be a matter of grave concern to the Rector if competence and results are priorities for the Institute.”
The reaction of the students follows what they term a dismissive posture of management of the school.
But the Concerned students in their statement expressed disappointment in the assertions of the Rector arguing his claims undermine the competence of faculty members.
“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, particularly at the School of Public Service and Governance”
The students accused the Rector of taking unilateral decisions they believe are inimical to the progress of the institution.
“We note with concern the unilateral decision by the Rector to abolish the Graduate School, a body that traditionally coordinates all postgraduate programmes including PhDs. This action, which reportedly stemmed from personal differences, directly contravenes the Governing Council’s directive and the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) requirement that all universities offering graduate programmes must maintain a Graduate School.”
They also accused the Rector of establishing a PhD Committee at the School of Public Service and Governance, despite the existence of a duly appointed PhD Coordinator. According to the concerned students the development amounts to a duplication of roles unnecessarily which hampers their progress.
The statement alleged other disturbing decisions by the Rector which fly n the face of good corporate governance and best practice.
“Similarly, the creation of ad hoc committees to re-examine theses already vetted by qualified professors has only introduced avoidable bureaucratic layers. Despite the Governing Council’s directive to abolish such committee, the Rector introduced yet another mechanism known as the Gatekeeper within the Office of the Deputy Rector. This process requires additional vetting, pre viva sessions, and clearances, extending thesis processing by an average of three years.”
The concerned PhD students also rejected claim by the rector that 35 students have graduated from the programme stating the number is rather 17.
“It is misleading to suggest that thirty five (35) students have graduated from the PhD programme. In reality, only seventeen (17) students in the School of Public Service and Governance have successfully completed the programme since its inception in 2014. Those who have abandoned the programme far outnumber those who have graduated which is an indication that systemic issues must be addressed.”
The group rejected what they termed an attempt to frustrate students in the name of quality assurance. According to them they are being used as collateral in what they term administrative disputes.
“We wish to emphasize that we are mature individuals, many of whom have decades of professional and life experience. While we respect institutional processes and quality assurance mechanisms, we reject any attempt to frustrate students or use them as collateral in administrative disputes.”
The statement concluded with a number of questions for Prof. Bonsu:
How long did it take you personally to complete your PhD degree?
As Rector, are you satisfied that out of over one hundred (100) students admitted, only seventeen (17) have graduated?
Are you concerned that under your leadership, GIMPA risks becoming a ghost community?
Has GIMPA ever been in the news for such negative reasons before now?
In conclusion the concerned GIMPA PhD Students called on all stakeholders including faculty, Governing Council, alumni, and the wider public to take keen interest in the matters to ensure that the integrity and reputation of GIMPA are preserved and that students receive fair treatment in pursuit of their academic goals.
Find below the full statement:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ATTN: EDITOR
GIMPA PhD Students Clarify Context on Media Reports
Accra, Ghana 20/10/2025
Students affected by challenges in the PhD programme at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) wish to set the record straight regarding recent public statements by the Rector of the Institute.
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, particularly at the School of Public Service and Governance.
Duration of Study
The PhD programme was designed for a specified period of three (3) years. However, many students have remained in the programme for between seven (7) and ten (10) years. This prolonged duration should be a matter of grave concern to the Rector if competence and results are priorities for the Institute.
Collapse of the Graduate School
We note with concern the unilateral decision by the Rector to abolish the Graduate School, a body that traditionally coordinates all postgraduate programmes including PhDs. This action, which reportedly stemmed from personal differences, directly contravenes the Governing Council’s directive and the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) requirement that all universities offering graduate programmes must maintain a Graduate School.
Constitution of Committees
The establishment of a PhD Committee at the School of Public Service and Governance, despite the existence of a duly appointed PhD Coordinator, appears to duplicate roles unnecessarily and hampers student progress. Similarly, the creation of ad hoc committees to re-examine theses already vetted by qualified professors has only introduced avoidable bureaucratic layers. Despite the Governing Council’s directive to abolish such committees, the Rector introduced yet another mechanism known as the Gatekeeper within the Office of the Deputy Rector. This process requires additional vetting, pre viva sessions, and clearances, extending thesis processing by an average of three years.
Graduation Figures
It is misleading to suggest that thirty five (35) students have graduated from the PhD programme. In reality, only seventeen (17) students in the School of Public Service and Governance have successfully completed the programme since its inception in 2014. Those who have abandoned the programme far outnumber those who have graduated which is an indication that systemic issues must be addressed.
Appeal to Leadership
We wish to emphasise that we are mature individuals, many of whom have decades of professional and life experience. While we respect institutional processes and quality assurance mechanisms, we reject any attempt to frustrate students or use them as collateral in administrative disputes.
In light of the above, we respectfully pose the following questions to the Rector:
How long did it take you personally to complete your PhD degree?
As Rector, are you satisfied that out of over one hundred (100) students admitted, only seventeen (17) have graduated?
Are you concerned that under your leadership, GIMPA risks becoming a ghost community?
Has GIMPA ever been in the news for such negative reasons before now?
We call on all stakeholders including faculty, Governing Council, alumni, and the wider public to take keen interest in these matters to ensure that the integrity and reputation of GIMPA are preserved and that students receive fair treatment in pursuit of their academic goals.
Signed
Concerned PhD Students, GIMPA
