European-American University has become aware recently of a need to act to ensure that there is no misunderstanding concerning the facts concerning its Ghanaian operations, and to prevent the circulation of any material prejudicial to the interests of the University. This statement is therefore being issued for the benefit of all interested parties.

1. European-American University College and accreditation in Ghana

In 2010, Professor Williams A.O. Egbuta, head of the EAU All-Africa Co-ordination, and Professor Michael Nwaubani, acting on their own authority and independently of the University, acquired a campus in Ghana at Kaemebre, off Bawdjawse Road, Kasoa, Central Region.

In July of that year, the Ghanaian Corporate Affairs Commission registered the Ghanaian operation as European-American University College and granted it a certificate to commence business. The Directors of the corporation were Professors Egbuta and Nwaubani. The corporation then established an agreement with European-American University such that the University College would be considered an International Partner of the University and this was signed on 1 December 2010.

Application by the University College was immediately made to the Ghana Universities Accreditation Board for accreditation. During the process, the University College worked under the name EAU Centre for Academic Excellence.

For the purposes of clarification, the following should be stated:

• European-American University was not a party to the Ghanaian incorporation or the application for accreditation. Neither the University nor any of its owners were directors, officers or shareholders of the Ghanaian corporation, nor did the University send or receive any money to the Ghanaian corporation.
• Professor Egbuta and Professor Nwaubani were voluntary, unpaid members of the Fellowship of European-American University with professorial status, and at no time were they employees of the University or entitled to take decisions on behalf of the University’s Board.

The requirements of the process of accreditation meant that students could not be admitted until such time as the process had been completed successfully. No student was admitted to the campus, nor did any Ghanaian student graduate from EAU degree programs.

It should be emphasised that European-American University College, registered in Ghana, was at all times a separate corporate entity from European-American University, registered in the Commonwealth of Dominica. It was European-American University College that established and sought accreditation in Ghana, not European-American University.

As a result of irreconcilable conflict with the accreditation authorities, who set conditions that it was impossible for the University College to meet, the University College withdrew from the accreditation process in December 2012 and at this point discontinued any attempt to establish itself in Ghana.

Both directors of the University College corporation, Professors Egbuta and Nwaubani, are now deceased.

2. European-American University’s Royal Charter

In August 2010, as a mark of recognition and support for European-American University’s educational programs in Ghana and throughout Africa, the University was awarded a Royal Charter from HRH Nana Dr. Obeng Wiabo V, the Chief of Gomoa Nyanyano, and Oshihene (Chairman of Lands) of Gomoa Akempim Traditional Area, Ghana. Ghana’s historic traditional monarchies are recognized under the Chieftaincy Act 1971.

The award of the Royal Charter to European-American University is wholly separate from the process of accreditation with the Ghanaian government authorities in respect of European-American University College which has been described above. European-American University has not at any point represented its Royal Charter as a substitute for the accreditation of the Ghana Universities Accreditation Board, and the full engagement of the University College with the accreditation process of the latter over a two-year period, which engendered considerable investment and costs, stands as ample evidence of good faith in this matter.

3. European-American University International Partners in Ghana

International Partners are independent teaching institutions which are authorized to prepare students for programs that can lead to certification for an EAU award. They are owned and operated autonomously, and not by the University. In most cases, International Partners prepare students for their own non-degree certificates or diplomas which are then accepted for either partial or full reciprocal credit by EAU. In this relationship, the International Partner and the students concerned contract with EAU as a foreign university, in exactly the same way as any student from Africa may choose to enter a distance learning program at any other foreign university and then receive credit for their prior studies at an appropriate level. Just as EAU does, other universities also maintain preferred relationships with award-giving bodies in order to establish relationships for credit transfer and accumulation.

No International Partner is an offshore campus or distance learning centre of European-American University. The University does not own or control the operations of any International Partner, and students are only introduced to the University when they are ready to validate their studies or awards.

International Partners may organize conferences or ceremonies where permitted by law, and the University supports such activity as part of its academic program. However, these events are organized by the International Partner concerned, and not by the University.

As an overseas university operating through the medium of the Internet, European-American University is not subject to domestic university regulation or jurisdiction outside its countries of registration. While it is conceivable that a country might choose to legislate to prevent its citizens from being able to enrol in foreign distance learning programs via the Internet, such legislation would, as well as being a gross restriction upon individual liberty, be virtually impossible to enforce. No such law currently exists in Ghana or indeed in any other country to our knowledge.

In Ghana, European-American University does not undertake and has never undertaken any of the following activities:

• admitting or registering students
• teaching students
• administering student examinations or assessments
• employing academic staff
• owning or controlling any academic or administrative centre (including offshore campus and distance learning centres)
• placing advertisements of any kind

If any such activity is done by an International Partner of the University, it is done at the initiative of the International Partner concerned without the involvement of the University, and it is entirely their responsibility to ensure that such activity is conducted in accordance with applicable laws.

4. Summary

European-American University wishes to make clear to all parties that its operations so far as Ghana is concerned have at all times been in accordance with applicable laws and have been conducted in good faith throughout.