Management of the Sunyani Technical University (STU) has categorically denied a claim in some sections of the media that the Pro-Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Justice Solomon Korantwi-Barimah’s PhD is ‘fake.’
“We categorically deny this unfounded claim and urge the general public to disregard any such malicious publications”, the University stated in a Press Release issued in response to a publication titled “STU Pro-VC Sued For ‘Fake’ PhD” and published in an Accra-based tabloid, the Daily Guide, on September 9, 2024, and further published by dailyguidenetwork.com and some other online portals subsequently.
STU Management is therefore asking all those spreading this falsehood to desist from further spreading the disinformation and character assassination in their own interest.
According to the press release, “this baseless allegation that Professor Korantwi-Barimah possesses a ‘fake PhD’ is not only defamatory but also a calculated attempt to tarnish the hard-won reputation of the Pro-Vice Chancellor and the STU.”
It further explained that STU sponsored Professor Korantwi-Barimah to pursue a Doctoral Degree at the Tshwane University of Technology in South Africa, where he obtained a Doctor of Technology Degree (D-Tech) in Human Resource Management through rigorous academic training that meets international standards.
“Subsequently, this academic qualification was evaluated and confirmed by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) as comparable to a Doctoral Degree awarded by any recognized tertiary institution in Ghana”, the press release said.
STU Management also explained that it is provided in the Scheme of Service for staff of Technical Universities in Ghana that, “an applicant for promotion to the rank of Associate Professor must have a terminal degree (PhD) or its equivalent …”, adding that it was based on this clause, among other requirements, that the Pro-VC was promoted to Professorial status.
The release said the false narrative being spread in the media is not only an affront to the Pro-VC but also an attack on the integrity of STU and its leadership.
Background
The Daily Guide and some other media platforms had earlier reported on a suit at the Commercial High Court in Sunyani where an old student of STU, Charles Addo Odokyi, had sued the Pro-VC for “academic dishonesty.”
The plaintiff, according to the publication, is seeking among other reliefs, an injunction against the defendant from holding himself as a PhD holder, and further prevent him from carrying himself as the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the university.
Joined to the suit are Dr. Agyeman Boakye, the Council Chairman for STU and the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) in Accra, the supervising agency of technical universities.
GTEC is joined to the suit for alleged failure in its oversight responsibility of the STU by failing to hold the university to account to its (GTEC) harmonised statutes, thereby allowing Korantwi-Barimah to engage in academic dishonesty for the period he held himself as a professor and acted as Pro-VC and substantive Pro-VC of the university.
The suit, filed on August 29, 2024, was heard on September 5, 2024, but adjourned to October 26, 2024.
According to the suit, ‘Dr’ Justice Solomon Korantwi-Barimah was awarded a degree of Doctor Technologiae in Human Resource Management by Tshwane University of Technology in South Africa and evaluated by the GTEC to be comparable to a doctoral degree in a relevant subject area awarded by any recognised tertiary education institution in Ghana.
The plaintiff contended that the above qualification is different from and not equal to a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), which is part of harmonised statutes requirements by the GTEC to become a professor or associate professor to enable one to act as a Pro Vice-Chancellor or a Vice Chancellor of a technical university in Ghana, in this case the Sunyani Technical University.
Media contact:
Prof. Samuel Asuamah Yeboah, a Senior Lecturer of STU
Mobile +233 24 472 3071
