Following the observation by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) that there was an increasing number of public officers presenting unearned academic titles and certificates for appointment, promotion, or certification in the public sector in Ghana in recent times, the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) has been drawn into the campaign to help with investigations to sanitise unearned certificates.
One example, recently referred to the NIB for investigations in a letter dated November 20, 2025, is that of Alfred Attuquaye Botchway, who, according to GTEC, was using an unearned “Professor” and “Dr” titles interchangeably and was now serving as an independent Executive Director of one commercial bank (name withheld) in Ghana.
GTEC, in officially referring the matter to the National Investigations Bureau, has also requested that the Minister of Finance and the Governor of the Bank of Ghana should take immediate steps to suspend Alfred Attuquaye Botchway as a board member of the said state-owned commercial bank pending the conclusion of the investigations.
The move follows earlier communication between GTEC and Alfred Attuquaye Botchway, during which he was asked to provide supporting documentation for his said credentials.
According to GTEC, the use of honorary academic titles, whether conferred by institutions in Ghana or abroad must be exercised with the utmost discretion.,
It said titles that have not been formally earned through recognised academic pathways must not appear in any official, professional, or public documentation. "This inappropriate use of such titles undermines the credibility of academic institutions and compromises the integrity of Ghana's higher education system," it said.
From that, GTEC, after examining the documentary evidence submitted by Alfred Attuquaye Botchway, coupled with his CV after a request has concluded that the said “Professor” and “Dr” titles he has been using are unearned and has directed him to stop using them.
GTEC, therefore, wants the National Investigations Bureau to look into the circumstances under which he obtained a certificate as a “Full Professor in Strategic Networking” [copy of certificate attached below] from a university in Costa Rica – Universidad Empresarial de Costa Rica (UNEM) and another certificate “Doctor of Philosophy in Strategic Financial Management,” also from Universidad Empresarial de Costa Rica (UNEM).
Graphic Online has seen a copy of the November 20, 2025, letter addressed to the Director-General of the National Investigations Bureau formerly BNI - Bureau of National Investigations) on the issue and copied to the Minister of Finance, Minister of Education, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, the Managing Director of the said commercial bank, and Alfred Attuquaye Botchway himself.
Other documents seen by Graphic Online on the issue are a letter dated November 11, 2025 in which the tertiary education accreditation body in Ghana engaged with Alfred Attuquaye Botchway and his responses as well as documents from the Business School of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology confirming that it has no affiliation, partnership, or joint degree arrangements with Universidad Empresarial de Costa Rica (UNEM); therefore, contradicting the purported certification cannot be valid as a programme which was started at KNUST and completed at UNEM.
KNUST, however, confirms that Alfred Attuquaye Botchway had been admitted in 2006 for an Executive PhD programme in Business Administration and attended doctoral seminar courses as a student specialising in Banking and Finance on the Doctor of Business Administration programme during the 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 academic years.
Contrary, Alfred Attuquaye Botchway had indicated that he had started a PhD in Strategic Financial Management, at the KNUST School of Business and completed it at Universidad Empresarial de Costa Rica (UNEM) between October 2006 and September 2011.
GTEC per the checks with KNUST explains that the said programme was subsequently truncated due to accreditation issues and with the KNUST confirmation that it has no affiliation, partnership, or joint degree arrangements with UNEM; the purported certification cannot be valid.
It said the purported transfer of credits from an unaccredited programme at KNUST to UNEM is irregular and unacceptable.
The latest development followed Alfred Attuquaye Botchway’s earlier responses to GTEC's questions about his credentials and qualifications, and given the position he currently occupies as an Executive Director of the said commercial bank, GTEC is of the view that further investigations must be conducted to verify the authenticity of his academic and professional credentials.
“Should he be found culpable, appropriate legal action should be pursued,” the letter from GTEC to the national investigations outfit indicated.
What are the issues?
From the letter addressed to the NIB, GTEC indicates that Mr. Botchway's CV indicates that between 2008 and 2012, his professional experience was primarily in corporate business environments.
The letter states that his only teaching experience appears to be in 2008, during which he served as a part-time and visiting lecturer at the Pan African Christian University in Winneba.
It adds that the only document referring to him as "Prof." is a July 2018 fellowship award from the Institute of Labour & Industrial Relations in USA.
“There is no evidence that he had ever been designated or appointed as a "Professor" prior to this fellowship. Notably, a letter dated 26th July 2023 appointing him as a Visiting Researcher at the Department of Insurance, L-Università ta' Malta, refers to him as "Dr. Alfred Botchway."
The letter adds that “Part-time/visiting lecturer and visiting researcher positions are non-tenure-track and cannot be used as a basis for claiming the academic title "Professor." There is no evidence of any academic rank progression (Lecturer → Senior Lecturer → Associate Professor → Professor).
In the Summary, from the Profile of his CV, he claims to hold a "full professor certificate in Strategic Network" from the Universidad Empresarial de Costa Rica (UNEM).
However, according to GTEC he provides no evidence of a teaching appointment at that institution, nor of any documentation confirming his elevation to the rank of full professor when he was contacted on the issue.
It said although UNEM's certificate suggests an academic designation, Mr. Botchway has not provided any academic transcripts or evidence of scholarly work supporting the award of this title.
“It must be emphasized that "Professor" is an academic rank-not an earned degree [copy of certificate indicating he earned it attached above].
“Furthermore, qualifications issued by UNEM are not recognized by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC).
Again on the use of the Doctoral Title and Inconsistencies in the PhD Journey, it said that “In his "Education and Qualifications" section, Mr. Botchway states that he pursued a PhD in Strategic Financial Management, beginning at the KNUST School of Business and completing it at Universidad Empresarial de Costa Rica (UNEM) between October 2006 and September 2011.
GTEC indicates that a verification at KNUST confirms that he was enrolled in an Executive PhD in Business Administration for approximately two years and that the said programme was subsequently truncated due to accreditation issues. KNUST also confirmed that it has no affiliation, partnership, or joint degree arrangements with UNEM; therefore, the purported certification cannot be valid.
It said the purported transfer of credits from an unaccredited programme at KNUST to UNEM is irregular and unacceptable.
In his Summary Profile, he states that the programme began at KNUST and was completed at "the University of Costa Rica." The University of Costa Rica (a public institution) and UNEM (a private institution) are entirely distinct and have no joint doctoral programmes.
“UNEM has never been accredited in Costa Rica to award doctoral degrees in Business Administration or Management, it added.
On the Unverified Professional Certifications, GTEC indicated that it was concerned about the numerous unaccounted-for professional certifications listed on Mr. Botchway's CV (for example: FEIFD, DLLT, FCICT, COMP, IMS, DFPFM, ACI, FSSM, FCPFM, FSNNP, MIOD).
It said Mr. Botchway has not provided certificates or supporting evidence for these qualifications when his academic credentials were demanded.
Attached below is the profile of Alfred Attuquaye Botchway as submitted and published by the said bank commercial bank on its website.
"Dr. Alfred Attuquaye Botchway is a seasoned financial strategist, governance expert, and institutional reform advocate with over two decades of extensive experience across banking, investment management, public finance, and strategic leadership. He currently serves as a Non-Executive Director on the Board of National Investment Bank PLC (NIB), where he plays a pivotal role in guiding the Bank's recapitalization and long-term transformation in line with Ghana's national development banking agenda.
"Dr. Botchway is a distinguished academic and practitioner, holding a Bachelor of Science degree, an MBA, and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), alongside an impressive portfolio of international professional certifications. His qualifications span a wide spectrum of financial and governance disciplines, including ACI, EIFD, BBRSA, CompIMS, DFPFM, FCPFM, FSNNP, GABOD, and IOD—demonstrating deep expertise in treasury operations, corporate finance, public financial management, risk and compliance, institutional governance, and strategic planning.
"A globally respected voice in finance and professional development, Dr. Botchway serves on the African Council of the International Professional Financial Managers (IPFM), contributing to the advancement of professional standards, ethics, and financial leadership across Africa. He is recognized for his analytical acumen, policy insight, and dedication to institutional excellence.
"Over the course of his career, Dr. Botchway has consulted for both public and private institutions, advising on complex financial restructurings, governance system upgrades, and the development of sustainable growth frameworks. He was a Financial Engineer at Regent University and a Treasury staff at Barclays Bank PLC ('now Absa Bank'). He was also a non-executive director on the board of BOST for eight (8) years. He was also a visiting researcher at the Department of Insurance, Faculty of Economics, Management and Accountancy (FEMA) at the University of Malta. His results-driven leadership style and commitment to sound governance have made him a sought-after expert in the reform and strengthening of financial institutions in emerging economies.
"Dr. Botchway brings strategic clarity, technical expertise, and governance oversight to the Board, helping to steer the Bank into a new era of resilience, relevance, and national impact."
Writer's email: enoch.frimpong@graphic.com.gh
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