The Founder and President of Ashesi University College says one of the 17 people arrested recently for SIM box fraud "is not, and never has been, a Lecturer at Ashesi University College."

Patrick Awuah Jr explained in a statement Wednesday that contrary to reports in a section of the media, Dr Alexander Tweneboah, who is a former President of the Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA) was at the renowned private university just one time to speak on a topic on real estate development.

Patrick Awuah Jr

"In October 2011, he visited a session of our Real Estate Development class, in his capacity as President of the Ghana Real Estate Developers Association, to speak on the topic: “Factors Shaping Real Estate Development in Ghana”, the statement clarified.

Dr Tweneboah and 17 others were arrested Monday by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) within a seven-month operation which was in collaboration with the National Communications Authority and SUBAH Info Solutions Ghana Limited.

Read Mr Awuah's full statement below:

Ashesi Community Announcements

On SIM box fraud in Ghana, false association with Ashesi and the responsibilities of the media

This morning many news agencies carried the story of a group of people arrested yesterday for SIM Box fraud in Ghana. The story showed the remarkable investigative work of Ghana’s Criminal Investigation Department.

However, some news agencies inaccurately identified one of the arrested parties, Dr. Alexander Tweneboah, as a Lecturer at Ashesi University College.

On behalf of the Ashesi Community, I would like to respond directly to this. Dr. Alexander Tweneboah is not, and never has been, a Lecturer at Ashesi University College.

In October 2011, he visited a session of our Real Estate Development class, in his capacity as President of the Ghana Real Estate Developers Association, to speak on the topic: “Factors Shaping Real Estate Development in Ghana.”

We look forward to a full and unequivocal apology from the media institutions that inaccurately identified Mr. Tweneboa as a member of the Ashesi Community.

A trusted media is an extraordinarily important tool in helping advance a strong democracy, and we sincerely hope that the publications in question will do what is right.

Patrick Awuah Jr.

Founder & President, Ashesi University College