Stop using the “Dr.” title – GTEC warns NDC’s Rashid Tanko

A source at the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communication (GIFEC) has confirmed to Graphic Online that the agency has received a directive from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) instructing its Acting CEO, Sofo Rashid Tanko, popularly known as Tanko-Computer, to stop using the title “Doctor.”

The directive, contained in a letter dated June 3, 2025, stated that the Rashid Tanko claims to have received in 2016 from Kingsnow University was “unearned,” according to GTEC.

As a result, GTEC has ordered him to immediately cease using the title “Doctor” in any form and to remove it from all official documents, institutional records, websites, letterheads, and any other public or professional materials.

In addition, GTEC has requested that Mr. Tanko-Computer provide verifiable proof that he has complied with this directive across all platforms. The Commission also stated that it expects his full cooperation and looks forward to receiving confirmation of compliance soon.

This directive follows a general warning GTEC issued on May 30, 2025, in which it raised concerns over the increasing misuse of academic titles such as “Doctor” and “Professor” by individuals without legitimate or recognised qualifications.

The Commission reiterated its warning against the use of honorary academic titles, especially in official and public communications. It highlighted that such practices are misleading and unethical, noting that they undermine the credibility of Ghana’s higher education system and devalue properly earned academic honours.

GTEC made it clear that the misuse of titles violates the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023), and announced that it will begin naming and shaming individuals who ignore its warnings. It also said legal action would be taken against repeat offenders.

The Commission urged all stakeholders, including politicians, businesspeople, and public figures, to help uphold the integrity of the education system by complying with established academic standards.

GTEC also emphasised that only accredited institutions have the authority to award honorary degrees, and that such honours should never be presented as earned academic qualifications.

GTEC’s letter to Tanko-Computer on use of “Doctor” title

In the Tanko-Computer issue, Tanko-Computer himself has clarified on a number of occasions in social media and mainstream interviews that it was not an honorary PhD and that it was doctorate degree conferred on him by the Kingsnow University.

In two separate media interviews recently, he dismissed calls by critics and said he did not need to prove anything to anybody.

He reiterated that Kingsnow University conferred the Doctor of Philosophy in Public Administration degree on him and that it was an online programme he pursued between 2012 and 2016.

When he appeared on Joy Prime’s television morning show today [June 11] he described those questioning his credentials as “foolish” and undeserving of his time.

He was responding to comments made on social media that challenged the legitimacy of his academic qualifications in the television interview.

GTEC’s request to remove Dr title from official documents and platforms

But from what Graphic Online has gathered from the GIFEC source, the GTEC letter dated June 3, 2025, which was addressed to Tanko-Computer indicated the commission’s observance of Tanko-Computer’s continued use of the academic title “Doctor,” specifically in reference to himself as “Dr Sofo Rashind Tanko-Computer.”

It indicated that for the avoidance of doubt, the Commission was expressing its serious concern regarding the use of the unearned academic titles, whether conferred by institutions within Ghana or abroad.

The letter said such titles – particularly where they lack formal academic validation – can be misleading and is inconsistent with the established academic protocols governing the conferment and use of academic distinctions in Ghana.

In view of the above, “you are by this letter requested to cease the use of the title “Doctor.”

“Additionally, you are required to submit verifiable evidence that the title has been removed from all relevant platforms, including but not limited to official documents, institutional profiles, websites, letterheads, and any other public or professional representations,” the letter indicated.

“The Commission expects your full cooperation in this matter and looks forward to receiving confirmation of compliance at your earliest convenience,” it added.

Tanko-Computer first announced his links to Kingsnow University on December 11, 2016 on Facebook where he said he had obtained a PhD from that university.

Kingsnow University and the online information about the university online

The Kingsnow University referred to by Sofo Rashid Tanko-Computer which he said offered the PhD programme through online, has a web presence as a blog on wordpress.com as Kingsnowuniversity.wordpress.com, a domain which gained web presence just recently when discussions about the credibility of that university deepened.

This is how the one-page blog as of Wednesday June 11, 2025 describes the university:

The Kingsnow University online degree program is designed to provide its students with opportunities to improve their learning style.

The university has marked its position as one of the most prestigious universities that offer accredited online degrees and certifications. It has a revised and updated curriculum that suits the needs of all its students.

Not only has it earned a strong reputation among others in the field, but also have excelled in providing ease and convenience for those who seek it. It has diversified range of disciplines and subjects that covers almost all the professional fields and markets.

The fundamental mission of Kingsnow University is to accumulate the subject of interest, and provide its students with degrees that would help them achieve their respective professional goals.

It builds an extensive and intensive framework of networking that allows its students to interact and engage themselves in different activities and practices.

Such activities boost their level of confidence as well the knowledge about related subjects.  The network also includes interactive conversations of enrolled students with experienced professionals, who are available to guide them at every hour on the clock.

The university is known to have set high standards of education in order to maintain international competitiveness.

The primary focus of Kingsnow University is to provide academic excellence to its students without having them face any hassle. It facilitates them with online courses that they can access anytime they feel like and get themselves educated about the subjects they are interested in.

It strongly believes in the power of technology and the industrial revolution in terms of e-learning, academics and educational institutes. The university has fully integrated the technology into their core learning experience.

Each student of Kingsnow University has access to the vast database maintained by the professionals, where they can find relevant academic literature and evident resources to support their research.

In addition to this, Kingsnow University accumulates all mediums of technology in order to provide a learning experience that none could compete with.  It is spread across different forms of technology including websites, mobile app, electronic database and 24/7 functional online portal for consultancy.

The university also encourages its student to implement the theories their study into practical situations, and raise queries if they face any difficulties.

The purpose of such activity is to make them comfortable with different situations that may rise in any working environment.