Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communication (GIFEC), Sofo Rashid Tanko-Computer, has rejected growing claims that his PhD from Kingsnow University is illegitimate.
Speaking in an interview with Joy News on the morning of Wednesday, June 11, 2025, Mr. Tanko-Computer firmly dismissed what he called “foolish” criticism, asserting that he owed no explanation to those questioning his qualifications. “These are foolish people who don’t deserve my time,” he said when asked about social media allegations surrounding the authenticity of his degree.
The controversy comes amid a broader national discussion about academic fraud and title misuse. On April 7, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) warned the public and institutions about individuals using titles like “Doctor” and “Professor” without verifiable academic credentials from recognized institutions.
Tanko-Computer first mentioned his PhD on December 11, 2016, via a Facebook post. In the post, he stated that Kingsnow University had awarded him a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Administration, a degree he attributed to personal perseverance and the support of family and mentors.
However, questions have resurfaced following investigations into Kingsnow University, which appears to exist only as a one-page WordPress blog: kingsnowuniversity.wordpress.com. The website claims the institution is among the “most prestigious universities” offering accredited online degrees. Yet, the lack of accreditation information and the platform’s recent creation have cast further doubt on the institution’s legitimacy.
The university’s website describes its mission as providing accessible online degrees through a “diversified range of disciplines,” offering flexibility and technological integration—but with no trace of academic leadership, course listings, or accreditation credentials from any global or Ghanaian education authority.
Critics argue that degrees from such unverified institutions weaken academic standards and public trust. Yet Tanko-Computer insists his qualifications are valid and should not be the subject of public speculation.
