On Saturday, 21st June 2025, the School of Graduate and Professional Studies at Marshalls University College hosted a landmark academic event, the Doctoral VIVA VOCE. Held in the Emeritus Prof. D.E.K. Amenumey Building. The event brought together senior academics, public and private sector experts, and respected faculty to assess the research output of five distinguished doctoral candidates.
With intellectual rigour and high academic standards, the VIVA VOCE served as a platform for candidates to defend their research work, showcasing original contributions to knowledge across development studies, public sector innovation, financial integrity, and education.
Panel of Examiners
The academic quality of the VIVA VOCE was significantly enriched by a carefully selected panel of seasoned scholars and professionals:
Prof. Charles Owiredu – Chairman & External Examiner
Dr. Kofi Arko, MIoD – Cognate Examiner
Dr. Louisa Sasu Yawa – Internal Examiner
Dr. Tetteh Nettey – Panel Member
Prof. Marttinson Kofi Boakye – Moderator, Dean of Academic Affairs & Executive Secretary of the Marshalls Doctoral Faculty
Profile of the Chairman and External Examiner
Prof. Charles Owiredu, Chairman & External Examiner, Marshalls Doctoral Viva Voce (June 21, 2025)
Prof. Charles Owiredu is a distinguished scholar and academic leader with over three decades of experience in higher education, ministerial service, and theological research. He currently serves as the Executive Assistant to the General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), with a special focus on research and strategy, and as a Senior Lecturer at the Daniel Institute, Central University.
He holds a PhD in Biblical Studies and African Thought from the University of Durham, UK, and has served in various high-level academic leadership roles, including President of Yeshua Institute of Technology, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Regent University College, and Provost of Regent University College of Science and Technology. Prof. Owiredu was instrumental in the founding and academic structuring of Central University and has played advisory or foundational roles in more than eight other Ghanaian tertiary institutions.
A prolific scholar, Prof. Owiredu has authored over ten academic books and has published widely in peer-reviewed journals, focusing on Old Testament theology, Biblical languages, African thought, and the metaphorical use of language in scripture. His contributions also span green energy research and national STEM outreach, having served as a consultant to Ghana’s Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation.
Prof. Owiredu is widely respected as a thesis supervisor, external examiner, curriculum developer, public speaker, and theologian, and has made significant impacts across both academic and religious communities in Ghana and beyond.
His leadership as Chairman of the VIVA Panel brought clarity, wisdom, and vision to the assessment process. His closing remarks, drawing from the Parable of the Talents, challenged all candidates to share their knowledge through publications and impact society positively.
Profile of the Cognate Examiner Panel Member & Cognate Examiner, Marshalls Doctoral Viva Voce (June 21, 2025)
Dr. Kofi Arko, MIoD, is a seasoned finance and banking expert with over 23 years of progressive experience across the financial services, academia, and education management sectors. He currently serves as a Lecturer at Marshalls University College, where he teaches Research Methods and Entrepreneurship.
Dr. Arko holds a PhD in Development Studies with a specialisation in Development Finance from the University of Cape Coast and is a Member of the Institute of Directors Ghana (MIoD). His professional journey includes impactful tenures in senior executive roles such as Chief Executive Officer of Nsutaman Rural Bank PLC, Managing Director of Delta Microfinance Ltd, and formerly the Head of Programmes and CSR at Lancaster University Ghana, where he led innovations in academic programme development, stakeholder engagement, and community transformation initiatives.
Dr. Arko’s teaching and research interests span financial digitalisation, financial inclusion, economic development, entrepreneurship, and innovation in education. His academic and professional contributions are complemented by numerous seminar facilitation roles in strategic finance, risk management, credit analysis, and customer service, particularly within the microfinance sector.
As Cognate Examiner, Dr Arko provided nuanced evaluations that bridged academic theory with practical financial development. His contributions ensured that research relevance met industry needs, especially in the field of financial sustainability.
Doctoral Theses Presented & Their Contributions
- Mr. Samuel Yaw Banini
Thesis Title: Integrating Strategic Management Approaches Into Transport Infrastructure For Effective Project Delivery In Ghana.
Contribution: This study explores frameworks for better policy design and execution in Ghana’s transport infrastructure. It offers a strategic management model in that policymakers can adopt to bridge implementation gaps in transport infrastructure. - Dr. Nii-Okang Daniel’s Nerich
Thesis Title: The Ghana Debt Exchange Programme and its Implications for SSNIT
Contribution: Analyses the financial and legal implications of the debt restructuring on pension funds. The study provides a critical lens through which policymakers and fund managers can evaluate sovereign risk and future financial planning. - Mrs. Genevieve Nettey
Thesis Title: Fraud Prevention and Management in Ghanaian Financial System.
Contribution: Addresses the growing sophistication of financial fraud, proposing new governance frameworks and risk mitigation strategies relevant to both public and private financial institutions. - Mrs. Mercy Lilian Danquah
Thesis Title: Contractual Terms and Political Will On Infrastructure Project Execution.
Contribution: This research identifies the gap between political ambition and contractual enforcement in public infrastructure. It offers valuable insights into policy alignment, stakeholder accountability, and contractual best practices. - Mrs. Matilda Yaa Ntiful
Thesis Title: Employee Satisfaction and Organisation Effectiveness At The Ghana Education Service (GES).
Contribution: This study investigates the key drivers of job satisfaction in the education sector. The findings are poised to inform HR policy, retention strategies, and welfare initiatives across the education landscape.
Marshalls: Standing Tall in Academic Excellence
This event further affirms Marshalls’ position as a centre of academic excellence and practical research relevance. The institution continues to produce cutting-edge research with direct national and sectoral benefits, demonstrating its role in Ghana’s higher education ecosystem.
With distinguished examiners, dynamic faculty, and committed doctoral candidates, Marshalls is not only holding its own, but shaping thought leadership, policy, and national transformation through its scholarship.
Final Reflections
Drawing from the Parable of the Talents, he urged the candidates, “To whom much is given, much is expected… Add value to your work, publish your findings, and contribute to national transformation.” – Prof. Charles Owiredu, Chairman of the Panel.
Congratulations
We celebrate all our doctoral candidates for their resilience, intellectual output, and scholarly achievements. Your work has set a new standard and will no doubt serve as a beacon for future Marshalls’ scholars.
Prepared by:
The Office of The Executive Secretary
Marshalls Doctoral Faculty (MDF)
ADDRESS
Marshalls University College,
No. 14, Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia Highway,
Opposite Gloryland Hotel, Odorkor, Accra.
Phone: +233 242 561 005 or +233 27 774 1576
Email: info@marshalls.edu.gh
Website: www.marshalls.edu.gh
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