By Love Wilhelmina Abanonave
The Deputy Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kamal-Deen Abdulai, has questioned the relevance of academic titles in Ghana, arguing that they have contributed little to national development.
“I’ve always asked myself this question: why do we need these titles? People have titles which are needless. What has your doctorate or professorship brought to this country?” he asked.
Speaking on GBC’s Focus programme on August 20, 2025, he commended the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) for stepping up efforts to sanitise the system and cracking down on the abuse of academic titles by individuals and rogue institutions. However, he criticised the Commission for acting too late.
“They should have done this long ago. Were they sleeping before? If GTEC was up and doing earlier, people wouldn’t be using fake titles,” he said.
Mr Abdulai expressed frustration over the prevalence of fake titles, lamenting that some individuals misuse academic credentials while contributing little to the country’s progress. He questioned the value of qualifications when professionals fail to demonstrate basic competence, citing the example of a mechanical engineer unable to change a car tyre.
According to him, academic credentials should not overshadow real skills and impact. “If you don’t have what it takes to hold such titles, just drop it and move on. It doesn’t take anything from you. If you want titles too, look for them the right way,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Commission has begun writing to individuals suspected of misusing academic titles, instructing them to drop unearned designations. It has also threatened to revoke honorary degrees and pursue legal sanctions against persistent offenders.
This follows the case of the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, who claimed during her July 2025 vetting to be a professor. GTEC concluded that she does not hold the title in any capacity.
The Commission had requested documentary proof of her professorial appointment by August 11, 2025. Her legal team responded that she had been appointed as an Assistant Professor of Surgery by the University of Utah. However, the University confirmed she was an Adjunct Assistant Professor, not a full Assistant Professor as claimed.
GTEC has therefore ruled that Dr Ayensu-Danquah does not hold the title of professor.
