The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has formally cautioned Richard Kofi Asiedu, the Central Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), over his continued use of the academic title “Professor” without proper academic validation.
In a letter dated July 28, 2024, addressed to the National Chairman of the NDC, GTEC expressed concern about Mr. Asiedu’s persistent use of the honorary title despite earlier directives to desist.
The Commission cited Section 8(4)(d) of the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023), which prohibits the use of academic titles without legitimate qualifications.
According to GTEC, Mr. Asiedu was previously instructed on June 2, 2025, to stop using the title and to provide evidence of its removal from all public platforms, along with documentation of his highest academic qualifications.
However, GTEC noted that these instructions were ignored, noting continued misuse, including promotional materials such as a conference poster for the 2025 EELL Conference that described him as “Prof. Richard Kofi Asiedu” and as a holder of “earned doctorates.”
In a separate communication to the St. Andrews Group, dated June 19, 2025, GTEC acknowledged that Mr. Asiedu had received honorary titles from accredited institutions.
However, the Commission stressed that such titles cannot be used as substitutes for formally earned academic ranks, especially without verification or equivalence recognition.
GTEC referenced Sections 7(i) and 8(4e) of Act 1023, which empower the Commission to validate academic credentials and assess foreign degrees—such as those reportedly conferred by Alfred Nobel University in Ukraine.
The Commission has given Mr. Asiedu a final deadline of July 31, 2025, to comply by ceasing the use of the title or face legal consequences. It also appealed to the NDC leadership to intervene to resolve the matter amicably.
“GTEC has the statutory authority to regulate the use of academic titles in Ghana, and any individual who fails to comply risks legal sanctions,” the statement said.
GTEC has, in recent months, written to several government officials and public figures, directing them to stop using the title “Dr.” or “Prof.” due to a lack of verified academic justification.
Those affected include the CEO of the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), Rashid Tanko-Computer; President of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), Dr. Joseph Obeng; and the Member of Parliament for Gomoa East, Desmond De-Graft Paitoo.
