Stop Using ‘Unearned’ Academic Title or Face Us in Court – GTEC Writes to Chief of Staff on Deputy Minister of Health Grace Ayensu-Danquah’s Title

The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has ruled that the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, does not hold the academic title of “Professor” in any capacity, despite publicly presenting herself as such.

The Commission, which is currently on a nationwide campaign to curb the abuse of academic titles, has formally written to the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President—Dr Ayensu-Danquah’s employer—directing that she cease the use of the title.

In a letter dated August 12, 2025, and sighted by Graphic Online, GTEC further warned that should the Deputy Minister persist in using the title “Professor”, it may be compelled to initiate legal proceedings on grounds of public deception.

The matter first came to light in a correspondence dated August 4, 2025, in which GTEC asked Dr Ayensu-Danquah to submit verifiable evidence of her professorial appointment by August 11, 2025. The letter referenced a prior interaction between the Commission’s Board Chairman and the Deputy Minister regarding her usage of the title. Copies were also sent to the Chief of Staff and Clerk of Parliament.

On August 8, 2025, Dr Ayensu-Danquah’s solicitors, led by David K. Ametefe, responded to GTEC, stating that she had been appointed as an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Utah, USA. They also questioned GTEC’s authority to demand evidence of an appointment conferred outside Ghana’s jurisdiction.

However, GTEC noted that the documentation provided did not prove a professorial appointment. Instead, it was a letter from the University of Utah, signed by Prof. W. Bradford Rockwell, Vice Chair for Academic Affairs of the Department of Surgery, dated August 7, 2025. The letter confirmed that Dr Ayensu-Danquah held the position of Adjunct Assistant Professor of Surgery, a rank that falls short of a full professorship.

“Sir, the Commission wishes to clarify the following key points:

1. Contrary to the assertion in the letter from her solicitors, Dr Ayensu-Danquah was not appointed as an Assistant Professor but as an Adjunct Assistant Professor, as clearly stated in the letter from the University of Utah. The omission of the word “Adjunct” by her legal representatives is both misleading and troubling.

2. According to the letter from Dr Rockwell, the position of Adjunct Assistant Professor is not a tenure-track role. He further explains that academic position titles used by the University of Utah may not directly correspond to those within Ghana’s academic framework.

3. For clarity, within the context of Ghanaian higher education, an Adjunct Assistant Professor is roughly equivalent to a Part-time Lecturer and not even comparable to the rank of Senior Lecturer, let alone Professor,” the letter stated.

4. GTEC indicated that it was based on the above that the Commission has concluded that Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah does not hold the title of Professor in any capacity.

“We therefore respectfully call on you, her employer, to ensure that she ceases presenting herself as such. Should Dr Ayensu-Danquah continue to use the title “Professor”, the Commission may be compelled to pursue legal action on grounds of public deception,” the GTEC letter signed by Professor Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai as Director-General added.

Dear Madam,
REQUEST FOR DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE OF ACADEMIC TITLE (PROFESSOR)

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