Shock Closure: Ghana Tertiary Education Commission Shuts Down Royal Nursing College, Two Management Staff Arrested in Kumasi

The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), in collaboration with the Ashanti Regional Police Command, has closed down Royal Nursing College at Kumasi Tafo and arrested two members of the institution’s management in a sweeping regulatory enforcement exercise.

The decisive operation, carried out on Thursday afternoon, February 19, 2026.forms part of intensified efforts by authorities to clamp down on unaccredited and non-compliant tertiary institutions operating within the country.

According to officials of GTEC, preliminary investigations uncovered multiple breaches, including; The running of unaccredited programmes

Non-compliance with approved tertiary education standards

Administrative and regulatory infractions

Security personnel were deployed to secure the campus premises while the two management officials were taken into custody to assist with ongoing investigations.

The announcement of the immediate shutdown triggered emotional scenes at the campus, as students many visibly distressed were seen wailing and expressing shock over the sudden directive.
Groups of students gathered in confusion, demanding clarity about their academic future, while others broke down in tears amid uncertainty.

A Level 300 General Nursing student, Abdullah Rashid, described the development as devastating.

“We were in class when officials arrived to shut down the school. We are worried because we don’t know what will happen to us. Some of us are about to complete. We are pleading with the authorities to consider the innocent students,” he appealed.

The immediate closure has left both students and parents deeply concerned about the fate of ongoing academic programmes and the validity of certificates already issued.

However, GTEC has assured the public that investigations are ongoing and that measures will be outlined to safeguard the academic progression of affected students.

Authorities maintain that the enforcement action is part of broader national efforts to uphold academic integrity, protect students from exploitation, and maintain quality assurance within Ghana’s tertiary education sector.

The incident further heightens concerns about the proliferation of unlicensed and non-compliant institutions operating across the country.