Terms of Service

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the SDS Consult platform — including the SDS Consult website and role-based dashboards, and the SDS Consult mobile app — operated in partnership with CEA (Complementary Education Agency) Ghana (together, the "Platform"). By creating an account or otherwise using the Platform, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Platform.

The Platform supports registration, accreditation, and certification of tradespersons and Master Craft Persons (MCPs), in alignment with Ghana's Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET) standards. It provides tools for:

• SDS agents to register tradespersons/MCPs, capture required documentation and location data, and manage collections
• Regional coordinators to oversee agents in their assigned region and districts, review registrations, and schedule assessments
• Facilitators/assessors to conduct and grade skills assessments
• Administrators to manage the overall accreditation process

• You must be at least 18 years old to create an account on the Platform.
• Accounts are created or approved by SDS Consult/CEA Ghana administrators or regional coordinators; you may not create an account for a role you have not been authorized to hold.
• You must provide accurate, current, and complete information and keep it up to date.
• You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activity under your account. Notify us immediately of any unauthorized use.
• Where multi-factor authentication (MFA) is enabled or required for your role, you are responsible for keeping your MFA method accessible and secure.

Each role carries specific responsibilities and corresponding data access, enforced through role-based access controls:

• SDS Agents are responsible for the accuracy of information and photographs they submit when registering a tradesperson/MCP, including location data, and for handling registration fees collected on the Platform honestly.
• Regional Coordinators are responsible for appropriate oversight of agents and registrations within their assigned region/districts, and for reviewing edit requests and scheduling in good faith.
• Facilitators/Assessors are responsible for conducting and grading assessments fairly and in line with CTVET-aligned standards.

MCP/skilled-person registration requires payment of a registration fee, processed securely through Paystack. Certificate issuance may involve an additional certificate fee where applicable. Fees are set by SDS Consult/CEA Ghana and may change over time; the fee in effect at the time of a given registration applies to that registration.

Payments are generally non-refundable once a registration has been submitted for processing, except where required by law or at SDS Consult's discretion (for example, a duplicate charge or a payment made in error). Refund requests should be sent to admin@sdsconsult.gh.

Submitting false, misleading, or fraudulent information during registration (including falsified location data, photographs, or identification) is a violation of these Terms and may result in rejection of the registration, suspension of the associated agent/tradesperson account, and reporting to relevant authorities where appropriate.

Agents and regional coordinators may earn commissions on successful MCP/skilled-person registrations, credited to an in-app wallet. Commission amounts and eligibility criteria are determined by SDS Consult and may change over time; changes apply prospectively to future registrations.

Withdrawal of wallet funds is processed through Paystack to a payout account you provide, and may be subject to identity verification, minimum withdrawal amounts, and processing time. SDS Consult is not responsible for delays caused by Paystack, your bank/mobile money provider, or incorrect payout details you supply.

Certificates issued through the Platform reflect successful completion of the applicable CTVET-aligned assessment/accreditation process at the time of issuance. A certificate is not a guarantee of employment, business licensing, or any outcome outside the accreditation program itself.

You agree not to:

• Submit false, fraudulent, or misleading information, documents, or location data
• Use the Platform to harass, defraud, or impersonate any person
• Attempt to access accounts, data, or regions/districts you are not authorized to access
• Interfere with, reverse-engineer, or attempt to disrupt the Platform's operation or security
• Use the Platform for any unlawful purpose or in violation of applicable Ghanaian law

The Platform, including its branding, design, and software, is the property of SDS Consult and its licensors and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws. You retain ownership of content you submit (such as photographs and documents), but grant SDS Consult a license to use it as necessary to operate the Platform and fulfil the accreditation process.

The Platform relies on third-party service providers, including Supabase (data infrastructure), Paystack (payments), Brevo (email), and PiloSMS (SMS). Your use of payment features is also subject to Paystack's own terms. We are not responsible for outages or issues originating from these third-party providers.

The Platform is provided "as is" and "as available", without warranties of any kind, express or implied. To the fullest extent permitted by law, SDS Consult and CEA Ghana shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from your use of the Platform, including loss of data, income, or business opportunity. Nothing in these Terms limits liability that cannot be limited under applicable Ghanaian law.

We may suspend or terminate your account if you violate these Terms, submit fraudulent information, or misuse the Platform. You may request closure of your account at any time by contacting admin@sdsconsult.gh; see our Privacy Policy for how account deletion requests are handled.

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of Ghana, without regard to its conflict-of-law principles. Any dispute arising from these Terms or your use of the Platform shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Ghana.

We may update these Terms from time to time. Material changes will be reflected by updating the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Continued use of the Platform after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

Questions about these Terms can be sent to admin@sdsconsult.gh.

See also our Privacy Policy.