The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has directed Kenneth Ashigbey, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, to immediately stop using the title “Dr.” after declaring his Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) certificate from the Swiss Management Centre (SMC) invalid. The directive was issued in a statement on Friday, October 10, 2025, signed by the Director General, Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, following an investigation into a petition challenging the degree’s legitimacy.
GTEC confirmed that Mr. Ashigbey, who affirmed he held the qualification and provided his certificate and transcripts, obtained the DBA from the Swiss Management Centre. However, the Commission identified key discrepancies upon review. While the certificate, dated December 30, 2019, was issued by the Swiss Management Centre (SMC), the transcript, dated January 15, 2020, bore the name Swiss Management Centre (SMC) University. GTEC noted that the institution’s official website currently refers to itself only as Swiss Management Centre, making the addition of “University” on the later-issued transcript unusual.
Furthermore, the Commission expressed concern over the program’s nine-year duration, with the transcript indicating an enrolment date of February 10, 2010, and a graduation date of December 30, 2019. Citing its mandate under Section 7(i) of the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023), GTEC declared the DBA certificate invalid.
The Commission has instructed Mr. Ashigbey to provide verifiable proof that the “Dr.” title has been removed from all official and professional materials, including websites and institutional profiles. GTEC emphasized that the directive is a protective measure for academic integrity while a full assessment of the case remains ongoing.
Culled from CNR
