The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has refuted claims by Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah that she holds the academic rank of professor, cautioning her against presenting herself with the title.
In a letter addressed to the Chief of Staff at the Presidency, GTEC explained that it had earlier requested Dr. Ayensu-Danquah to provide documentary proof of her professorial appointment by August 11, 2025.
Her legal team, led by David K. Ametefe, responded on August 8, insisting that she was appointed an Assistant Professor of Surgery by the University of Utah in the United States. They also argued that GTEC had no authority to demand such evidence since the appointment was made outside Ghana.
However, GTEC said the documents submitted revealed inconsistencies. A letter from the University of Utah, signed by Prof. W. Bradford Rockwell, Vice Chair for Academic Affairs in the Department of Surgery, confirmed that Dr. Ayensu-Danquah was appointed as an Adjunct Assistant Professor, not Assistant Professor as claimed by her solicitors.
The Commission stressed that the omission of the term “Adjunct” was misleading. It explained that the role of Adjunct Assistant Professor is a non-tenure track position which, under Ghana’s academic framework, equates roughly to a part-time lecturer, not a senior lecturer, and certainly not a professor.
“Based on the above, the Commission concludes that Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah does not hold the title of Professor in any capacity,” the letter stated.
GTEC has therefore called on her employers to ensure she stops presenting herself as a professor. It further warned that should she persist, the Commission may initiate legal action on grounds of public deception.
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