Ghana’s tertiary education regulator has rejected claims by Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah that she holds the academic rank of professor, warning that continued use of the title could lead to legal action.
In a letter to the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) said it had given Dr. Ayensu-Danquah a deadline of August 11 to provide documentary proof of a professorial appointment. Her legal team responded ahead of the deadline, asserting she had been appointed an Assistant Professor of Surgery by the University of Utah in the United States.
But GTEC says the claim doesn’t hold up under scrutiny.
Documents submitted by Ayensu-Danquah’s lawyers—led by attorney David K. Ametefe—referenced a letter from the University of Utah, signed by Prof. W. Bradford Rockwell, Vice Chair for Academic Affairs in the Department of Surgery. That letter clarified that Ayensu-Danquah held the position of Adjunct Assistant Professor—a distinction GTEC says materially changes the nature of her appointment.
The regulator emphasized that the omission of the word “Adjunct” by Ayensu-Danquah’s legal team was “misleading,” and added that such a title in the U.S. context refers to a part-time, non-tenure-track position. Under Ghana’s academic classification system, that designation does not correspond to a full professorial rank, or even to the level of senior lecturer.
“Based on the above, the Commission concludes that Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah does not hold the title of Professor in any capacity,” GTEC wrote in its official communication.
GTEC further called on institutions employing Dr. Ayensu-Danquah to ensure she ceases referring to herself as a professor. The Commission warned that failure to comply could result in legal proceedings for public misrepresentation.
