The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has issued a stern warning to Richard Kofi Asiedu, the Central Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), over his continued use of the title “Professor”, a designation the Commission says he has not earned through appropriate academic channels.
The issue, which has been building over several months, came to a head after Mr. Asiedu appeared on a recent EELL 2025 Conference promotional poster under the designation “Prof. Richard Kofi Asiedu,” despite prior warnings and directives from GTEC to desist.
In a letter dated July 28, 2024, GTEC described Mr. Asiedu’s actions as “unethical” and a violation of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1023). The Commission further revealed that it had previously instructed him, on June 2, 2025, to remove the title from all official records and submit verification of his academic credentials — directives which were reportedly ignored.
Signed by Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, the Director-General of GTEC, the letter emphasized that continued disregard for the law could result in legal action, with GTEC citing its statutory mandate to regulate the use of academic titles such as “Professor.”
To avoid further escalation, the Commission has appealed directly to the NDC’s national leadership, urging the National Chairman to intervene and ensure compliance.
“This matter is not political,” the letter stressed. “It is a regulatory concern aimed at protecting the integrity and public trust in Ghana’s academic system.”
The Commission also copied the letter to the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, the NDC’s General Secretary, and Mr. Asiedu himself — a clear indication of the seriousness with which the matter is being handled.
In a related letter dated June 19, 2025, addressed to the St. Andrews Group of Schools and Companies, where Mr. Asiedu serves as CEO, GTEC reiterated its position. While not contesting the honorary degrees awarded to him — including one from Alfred Nobel University in Ukraine — the Commission warned that using honorary titles without clarification or formal academic verification is “potentially misleading.”
GTEC directed Mr. Asiedu to “purge himself” of the title “Professor” by July 31, 2025, or risk facing legal consequences.
Meanwhile, promotional materials continue to describe Mr. Asiedu as a “distinguished Ghanaian scholar with a number of earned doctorates.” GTEC, however, insists that such credentials are subject to official verification under Section 7(i) of Act 1023, which empowers it to authenticate certificates and degrees.
The standoff highlights growing regulatory scrutiny in Ghana’s education space, particularly concerning the unauthorised use of academic titles — a trend that education authorities fear could undermine the credibility of the country’s academic institutions.
As the July 31 deadline approaches, the public and political observers alike are watching closely to see whether Mr. Asiedu will comply — or whether the matter will escalate into legal proceedings.
