The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has directed the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Kenneth Ashigbey, to immediately cease using the title “Dr.” after declaring his doctoral certificate from the Swiss Management Centre (SMC) invalid.
In a statement issued on Friday, October 10, 2025, and signed by its Director General, Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, the Commission said the decision followed an investigation into a petition challenging the legitimacy of Mr Ashigbey’s Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree.
According to GTEC, a preliminary check confirmed that Mr Ashigbey had obtained a DBA from the Swiss Management Centre. When contacted, he affirmed that he held the qualification and subsequently provided copies of his certificate and transcripts to the Commission.
However, after reviewing the documents, GTEC identified discrepancies between the certificate and the transcript. While the certificate was issued by the Swiss Management Centre (SMC), the transcript bore the name Swiss Management Centre (SMC) University. Further checks on the institution’s official website as of October 10, 2025, showed that it is currently referred to only as Swiss Management Centre—consistent with the name on the certificate dated December 30, 2019.
The Commission found it unusual that the transcript, issued later on January 15, 2020, included the word “University,” which was not reflected on the certificate. GTEC also expressed concern over the unusually long duration of the programme, noting that the transcript indicated an enrolment date of February 10, 2010, and a graduation date of December 30, 2019—a period of nine years.
“In view of the above, and in accordance with Section 7(i) of the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023)—which mandates the Commission as the sole state authority to evaluate and authenticate both local and foreign qualifications—the GTEC deems your Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) certificate from the Swiss Management Centre (SMC) invalid,” the statement read.
GTEC has therefore instructed Mr. Ashigbey to provide verifiable proof that the “Dr.” title has been removed from all official and professional materials, including documents, institutional profiles, websites, digital platforms, and letterheads.
The Commission added that while a full assessment of the case is ongoing, the directive is in line with its mandate to protect academic integrity and ensure that only legitimate qualifications are recognised in Ghana.
