GTEC Flags Questionable Educational Titles: Urgent Call to Suspend Financial Institution Director Pending NIB Probe

Introduction

In a significant move to safeguard academic integrity and public trust in Ghana’s leadership, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has flagged questionable educational titles used by Alfred Attuquaye Botchway. GTEC has formally urged the Minister of Finance and the Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to suspend Mr. Botchway from his role as a board member of a state-owned business financial institution. This action follows a detailed review of his credentials from Universidad Empresarial de Costa Rica (UNEM), which GTEC has referred to the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) for investigation.

Dated November 20, 2025, GTEC’s letter highlights a growing concern over public officers misrepresenting academic qualifications for appointments. This development underscores the critical need for rigorous verification of educational credentials in Ghana, especially for high-stakes positions in finance and governance. As cases of unverified degrees and professorial titles rise, GTEC emphasizes that such practices erode the credibility of higher education and public service.

Analysis

The core issue revolves around Mr. Botchway’s use of “Professor” and “Dr.” titles on his CV, purportedly earned from UNEM. GTEC’s scrutiny revealed multiple red flags, including the lack of recognition for UNEM qualifications in Ghana and inconsistencies in supporting documentation.

Scrutiny of UNEM Credentials

UNEM issued certificates to Mr. Botchway claiming a “Full Professor in Strategic Networking” and a “Doctor of Philosophy in Strategic Financial Management.” However, GTEC does not recognize these qualifications. There is no academic partnership between UNEM and reputable Ghanaian institutions like Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). KNUST confirmed Mr. Botchway’s brief enrollment in an Executive PhD in Business Administration, which ended prematurely due to accreditation issues, but denied any joint programs with UNEM or the University of Costa Rica—two distinct entities.

Insufficient Evidence of Academic Ranks

No records show Mr. Botchway holding teaching appointments or progressing through ranks necessary for professorship. His CV lists primary experience in corporate roles from 2008-2012 and a short part-time lecturer stint at Pan African Christian University in Winneba in 2008. GTEC notes that part-time roles do not qualify for full professorial status. A single 2018 fellowship from the Institute of Labour & Industrial Relations in the US referenced him as “Professor,” but this lacks context for earned academic rank.

Unverified Professional Certifications

Additional concerns include certifications like FEIFD, FCICT, MIOD, and FCPFM, for which Mr. Botchway provided no proof despite GTEC’s requests. When asked, he failed to submit adequate documentation, leading GTEC to direct him to cease using the disputed titles.

Summary

GTEC’s intervention addresses a pattern of unearned educational titles among public officials, posing risks to Ghana’s higher education system and leadership integrity. By referring the matter to NIB and recommending suspension, GTEC aims to ensure accountability. The letter, copied to key stakeholders including the Ministers of Finance and Education, BoG Governor, the financial institution’s Managing Director, and Mr. Botchway, calls for a thorough probe into how the UNEM certificates were obtained. If culpability is established, GTEC advises pursuing legal action.

Key Points

Practical Advice

For individuals, institutions, and appointing bodies in Ghana, verifying educational credentials is essential to prevent scandals like the GTEC questionable educational titles case. Here’s a step-by-step guide grounded in GTEC protocols:

Steps for Credential Verification

1. Request Official Transcripts: Always demand sealed transcripts directly from the issuing institution, not copies from the applicant.
2. Check GTEC Recognition: Use GTEC’s database or contact them to confirm if foreign qualifications like UNEM degrees are accredited in Ghana.
3. Validate Academic Ranks: Verify professorship through employment records, publications, and peer reviews, not self-claimed certificates.
4. Cross-Check Partnerships: Confirm institutional affiliations, e.g., no KNUST-UNEM links exist.
5. Probe Certifications: For acronyms like FEIFD or FCICT, contact issuing bodies for membership verification.

Tools and Resources

Leverage GTEC’s verification portal, international databases like World Higher Education Database (WHED), and services from ENIC-NARIC networks for foreign credentials. Employers in finance, regulated by BoG, should integrate this into due diligence for board appointments.

Implementing these practices not only complies with GTEC guidelines but also protects institutional reputation, as seen in the Alfred Attuquaye Botchway suspension push.

Points of Caution

While pursuing career advancement, avoid pitfalls that led to this GTEC probe:

• Misuse of Honorary Titles: GTEC stresses honorary or unearned titles must not appear in official documents, as they undermine academic credibility.
• Risks in Public Roles: For board directors in state-owned financial institutions, unverified claims invite NIB-level scrutiny and potential suspension.
• Accreditation Gaps: Programs truncated due to issues, like Botchway’s KNUST enrollment, cannot be misrepresented as completed degrees.
• Trend Awareness: Rising cases among public officers signal stricter enforcement; proactive verification is key.

Appointing authorities must exercise caution, as BoG oversight demands impeccable credentials for financial stability roles.

Comparison

This incident aligns with broader global and local trends in fake academic titles Ghana and unverified credentials.

Ghanaian Context

GTEC’s letter notes an increasing number of public officers using unearned titles for promotions, mirroring past cases investigated by Ghana’s National Council for Tertiary Education (now GTEC). Unlike verified local PhDs from KNUST, foreign unaccredited degrees like UNEM’s fail basic recognition tests.

International Parallels

Similar to U.S. cases where executives faced dismissal for fabricated Ivy League claims, or UK’s scrutiny of honorary doctorates in CVs, Ghana’s response emphasizes NIB probes for national security-linked positions. UNEM’s lack of WHED listing parallels diploma mills flagged worldwide, distinguishing it from accredited Costa Rican universities like the University of Costa Rica.

Legal Implications

In Ghana, misrepresenting educational qualifications carries serious consequences, particularly for regulated roles. GTEC’s directive for legal action if Mr. Botchway is found culpable invokes provisions under the Tertiary Education Act, 2020 (Act 1016), which empowers GTEC to regulate titles and credentials.

For financial institution directors under BoG supervision, false claims may breach Banking Act, 2004 (Act 673) fitness and propriety standards, leading to disqualification. Criminal angles, if forgery is proven, fall under the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), Sections 158-160 on false pretenses. The NIB probe will determine if such thresholds are met, ensuring accountability without presumption of guilt.

Conclusion

The GTEC action against questionable educational titles exemplifies proactive governance in protecting Ghana’s public sector integrity. By urging suspension of Alfred Attuquaye Botchway pending NIB investigation into UNEM credentials, authorities signal zero tolerance for credential misrepresentation. This case serves as a pedagogical reminder: verified qualifications are foundational to trust in leadership, especially in finance. Stakeholders must prioritize rigorous checks to uphold higher education standards and prevent future lapses.

As Ghana advances, emulating GTEC’s vigilance will foster a merit-based system, benefiting public institutions and the economy at large.

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