An economics teacher at Bimbilla Senior High School, Sharif Shani Sagyeldoo Amadu, has passionately stepped into the swirling controversy over the academic credentials of Sofo Tanko Rashid Computer, CEO of the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), calling recent allegations against him “politically motivated, legally flawed, and ethically shallow”.
In a counter-petition addressed to President John Dramani Mahama, Mr Amadu dismantled a formal petition filed by Odeneho Kwaku Takyi, also known on social media as Sir Obama Pokuase, who accused the GIFEC boss of holding a fraudulent PhD from an unaccredited institution—Kingsnow University in the United States.
Amadu, however, argues that the allegations are not only misleading but also part of a broader political smear campaign targeting northern appointees in President Mahama’s administration.
“The petitioner has a well-documented pattern of hounding government officials on social media, particularly those affiliated with your administration,” Amadu wrote. “His motives appear to be rooted in personal vendetta and political frustration, not public accountability.”
Amadu points out several inconsistencies and exaggerations in the petition dated June 11, 2025, starting with the accusation that a degree from an unaccredited university is inherently fake.
“Unaccredited does not mean fake,” he explained. “It simply means the degree may not be recognised in certain jurisdictions. GTEC did not call the PhD fake—they only advised Mr Tanko to refrain from using the title ‘Dr’ in official capacities in Ghana.”
He cited precedents where GTEC directed local universities to stop unaccredited programmes without retroactively invalidating degrees already awarded.
Amadu stressed that Tanko-Computer’s appointment to GIFEC did not require a PhD, and therefore, whether or not his doctoral degree is recognised in Ghana has no bearing on the legality of his appointment.
“To claim dishonesty where there’s no qualification requirement is a stretch. “If the PhD was not a condition for his role, how does it become a criminal offence or breach of ethics?” he questioned.
The petition filed by Sir Obama invokes sections of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) to accuse Mr. Tanko of forgery and false pretence. Amadu, however, labelled these assertions “a misapplication of the law”.
“If the PhD is simply from an unaccredited university, then there’s no criminal offence. There’s no falsified document, just an academic title the authorities have asked him to stop using.”
Amadu argued that the petitioner is not a legal authority and overstepped by making sweeping legal conclusions in what should have been a fact-based petition.
In a more striking revelation, Amadu suggested the petition is part of a calculated move to undermine northern appointees in President Mahama’s administration. He referenced past comments by journalist Kwabena Afrifa, who reportedly alleged that the current government is dominated by Northerners.
“There is a dangerous and tribal undertone to this attack,” Amadu warned. “It begins with one appointee, then another. Soon it becomes an agenda to systematically reduce representation from the North under the guise of ‘academic fraud’.
He urged the president not to succumb to this apparent ploy, stating, “Sir, this is not just an attack on Dr. Tanko-Computer; it is an attack on your government’s credibility and a veiled tribal smear.” Amadu concluded his letter with a call to action:
- Dismiss the petition outright, as it lacks legal and factual merit.
- Caution the petitioner against using national platforms for personal vendettas and politically charged agendas.
“It is my firm belief that this baseless petition should be thrown out to deter others from weaponising credentials for political gain.”
Read the full report of Sharif Petition 1 petition to president
Background
This rebuttal follows a petition by Odeneho Kwaku Takyi, also known as Sir Obama, who demanded the dismissal and prosecution of Dr. Tanko-Computer for allegedly obtaining a fake PhD from Kingsnow University—a school he claims does not exist.
The petition, widely circulated on social media, gained traction after GTEC advised Dr Tanko to desist from using the “Dr” title. In response, the GIFEC CEO appeared on Puretvonline on June 11 and fiercely defended his integrity.
“My certificate was properly earned. I don’t give attention to idiots,” he said, dismissing critics as frustrated political operatives who can’t accept the NDC’s return to power.
Dr Tanko-Computer, who previously served under both NDC and NPP governments as Deputy Director at the Youth Employment Authority, said he has undergone multiple audits in public service, all of which cleared his academic record.
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