Dr Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, a former Government Spokesperson on Governance and Security, has urged the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to leave Deputy Health Minister Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah alone.
The former Government Spokesperson asked the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission to shift its attention to religious bodies and individuals using unaccredited titles.
According to Dr Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, GTEC must investigate religious bodies and persons using Reverend, Rev. Dr and others.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on August 19, Dr Boakye-Danquah stated, “GTEC should leave the Deputy Minister alone. I think that there are people who are using titles that they must pursue. From a religious background, I know that some people hold themselves with certain titles. GTEC is supposed to look at all institutions as they are”.
“We know that in this country, we have theological institutions that are accredited, and people go through to acquire studies and certification. I would want to entreat GTEC to turn their attention to the religious bodies those that are using Reverend, Rev. Dr., etc., that are also not accredited. I think GTEC should turn their attention there, and that will be able to sanitise the system,” he added.
Also, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Prof. Michael Ayamga-Adongo, has backed Dr Ayensu-Danquah.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s he stated, “I don’t think the Deputy Minister wants to beat the system. It is just that she comes from a system that described her as a professor, and she is bringing it here. What is not helping her case is trying to project it as if it is equivalent to what happens here. Was she a professor in the United States? Yes. Can she hold herself as a professor, maybe outside? Yes, but not in the university here. These are the intricacies of the issue.
I think that, as much as I appreciate GTEC for policing the system, they should go after those abusing it and not people who have come from a system that described her as a professor,” he added.
Their comments come following the ongoing dispute between the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) and Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah.
GTEC warned Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah against presenting herself as a professor.
According to GTEC, Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, despite her claims, was never appointed as an Assistant Professor of Surgery by the University of Utah in the United States.
GTEC, in a letter addressed to the Chief of Staff at the Presidency, requested Dr Ayensu-Danquah to provide documentary proof of her professorial appointment by August 11, 2025.
According to the deputy minister legal team responded and insisted she was an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Utah in the United States.
The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission further revealed that documents submitted by Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah’s legal team were inconsistent.
GTEC added that a letter from the University of Utah, signed by Prof. W. Bradford Rockwell, Vice Chair for Academic Affairs in the Department of Surgery, clarified that Dr. Ayensu-Danquah was appointed as an Adjunct Assistant Professor and not Assistant Professor.
According to GTEC, the role of Adjunct Assistant Professor is a non-tenure track position which equates to a part-time lecturer under Ghana’s academic framework and not a senior lecturer, and certainly not a professor.
GTEC letter boldly stated, “Based on the above, the Commission concludes that Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah does not hold the title of Professor in any capacity”.
They further warn the deputy of presenting herself as a professor otherwise, legal action on grounds of public deception will be initiated against her.
In addition, GTEC has also warned the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communication (GIFEC), Sofo Rashid Tanko-Computer, to cease using the doctor title.
Tanko-Computer had maintained he acquired a PhD from Kingsnow University in 2016, but GTEC, in a letter on June 3, 2025, stated the degree was unearned.
He was ordered to stop using the title Doctor. GTEC further requested Tanko-Computer to take off the Doctor title from platforms, such as official documents, institutional profiles, websites, letterheads, and any other public or professional representations.
Also, Hassan Ayariga, the Presidential Candidate of the All People’s Congress (APC), was directed to stop using the academic title “Dr” after he failed to provide evidence verifying the legitimacy of the designation.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, July 15, the Commission stated, “To date, the Commission has not received any response from you. This continued silence is unacceptable”.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Commission hereby formally expresses its concern regarding the use of academic titles that have not been duly earned and conferred through a recognised academic process.
“The use of such titles, particularly when lacking formal academic validation, is misleading and inconsistent with the academic protocols and standards governing the conferment and use of academic ranks in Ghana,” GTEC stated.
Meanwhile, on May 30, 2025, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission warned against the abuse of titles like Doctor and Professor by people without documented credentials.