Minority raises concerns over Bono Reg. Minister-designate's academic qualifications

The vetting seat of Regional Minister-designate for the newly created Bono region, Evelyn Ama Kumi-Richardson was hotter than usual Friday when she appeared before the august house’s vetting committee to respond to questions about herself and the new portfolio she has been nominated for.

Barely before the dust could settle after presenting the contents of her Curriculum Vitae (CV) to members of the committee, Mrs. Kumi-Richardson was taken on by Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa who sought to get more clarification about her educational qualifications.

Beginning with her doctorate title as captured in most media items, Mr. Okudzeto quizzed why the minister-designate had omitted (Dr.) in the details she presented whereas she was prior to now, being called, “Dr. Mrs. Evelyn Ama Kumi-Richardson”.

“The records you’ve provided suggests that you are Mrs. Evelyn Ama Kumi-Richardson but prior to this all media reports about you has Dr. Kumi-Richardson so where’s your PHD and why has it vanished today?”, he asked.

In response, Mrs. Kumi-Richardson noted that she decided to temporarily exclude the title when she realized her attained certificate from an international university; Mossbrige University, had to be approved by the Ghana Accreditation Board to be recognized within Ghana.

“Chairman, it is true I completed a PHD program but I submitted my certificate for evaluation at the National Accreditation Board, before then, I was being addressed as such but later on I realized that I needed to get the accreditation before I could hold the title so I’ve not received a response yet of which I’m still awaiting”, she said.

Adding, “The school I attended is not in Ghana and so when I brought my certificate, I had to submit it to the accreditation Board in Ghana here for it to be certified….it is going through validation”.

Mr. Ablakwa further probed why the course she had indicated on her CV; Master of Business Administration (Hospitality and Hotel Management) had not been captured on the university’s website.

“The courses provided by the school’s website do not include the Masters of Business Administration (Hospitality and Hotel Management) which had been indicated on your CV”.

To make clarifications however, she produced a copy of the school’s certificate she had earned to the committee.

Mrs. Kumi-Richardson was one of four nominees vetted in the second batch before the Appointments committee.

The other three were Oti Region Minister-designate, Kwasi OwusuYeboa, Upper West Region Minister-Designate, Dr. Hafiz Bin Sali and Toursim, Arts and Culture Minister-designate, Babara Oteng Gyasi.

If approved, Mrs. Evelyn Ama Kumi-Richardson will be substantive Minister of the newly created Bono region.