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The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has issued a firm directive to Samuel Ato Duncan, the newly appointed Board Chairman of the Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC), instructing him to immediately cease referring to himself as a “Professor.”
In a statement released on Thursday, July 17, GTEC reminded Mr. Duncan that it had previously communicated a similar order on June 3, 2025. The Commission had asked him to stop using the academic title “Professor,” citing a lack of verifiable academic credentials to support the claim.
“You were required to provide verifiable evidence confirming the removal of this title from all relevant platforms, including but not limited to official documents, institutional profiles, letterheads, websites, and other public professional representations,” the statement read.
GTEC expressed concern that Mr. Duncan has yet to respond to the earlier directive or submit any documentation to justify his use of the academic designation. As a result, the Commission has reiterated its stance and called for immediate compliance.
“To date, the Commission has not received a response from you, nor have you submitted any documentation justifying your entitlement to the academic title ‘Professor,’” the letter noted.
According to GTEC, for an individual to be recognized with the title “Professor,” they must possess a PhD or an equivalent terminal degree and must have been officially promoted to the rank of Associate Professor or Professor by a recognised tertiary institution.
“Until and unless you provide verifiable evidence… You are not authorised to use the title ‘Dr’ or ‘Professor’ in any official capacity,” the Commission emphasized.
The directive comes amid growing concerns about the misuse of academic titles in public service and aims to ensure the integrity and credibility of professional and academic titles in Ghana’s tertiary education and governance systems.
