Please refer to the official response from St. Andrew Group of Schools in the attached PDF.
By Stephen Apolima | Sankofaonline.com
Ghana’s academic credibility is under siege—not by foreign saboteurs, but from within its own ranks, where political influence and commercial ambition increasingly cloak themselves in titles never earned. At the heart of this unfolding scandal is Mr. Richard Kofi Asiedu, Central Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and CEO of the St. Andrews Group of Schools and Companies. The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), in a formal letter dated 19th June 2025, has directed Mr. Asiedu to cease using the title “Professor” and to purge all official representations of it.
This order follows a contentious press release issued by the St. Andrews Group defending Mr. Asiedu’s use of the title, which he received as an honorary professorship from Alfred Nobel University in Ukraine during a ceremony at a hotel in Accra. Since then, he has publicly adopted the title without any academic clarification—appearing in media, institutional branding, and formal communications simply as “Professor.”
In response, GTEC made its position unmistakably clear:
“The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has not at any time doubted the fact that Mr. Asiedu has indeed been awarded those honorary titles. The concern of the Commission is, however, on the use of the titles.”
GTEC reminded the public that honorary degrees, while legitimate recognitions, do not entitle recipients to use protected academic titles unless earned through formal academic processes. Referring to its earlier letter dated 3rd June 2025 (Ref No. AC81/0/01), the Commission stressed:
“Where there is a lack of formal academic validation, use of the honorary title is potentially misleading.”
The Commission cited Section 7(i) of the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023), which empowers GTEC to verify the authenticity of all academic credentials, and Section 8(4e), which authorizes the Commission to determine the equivalence of foreign degrees in accordance with national standards.
Then came the clearest warning yet:
“Mr. Asiedu should therefore not ascribe to himself any rights and privileges assigned to a Professor and must purge himself of same and provide evidence to the Commission on or before 31st July, 2025. This includes withdrawing the title from all relevant platforms, including but not limited to official documents, institutional profiles, website, letterheads, and any other public or professional representations.”
The letter concluded with a strong legal threat: failure to comply will result in legal action.
This incident is not isolated. GTEC has in recent months cautioned a number of public figures over the unauthorized use of academic titles. These include Hon. Phillis Naa Koryoo Okunor, MP for Awutu Senya East; Desmond De-Graft Paitoo, MP for Gomoa East; Dr. Joseph Obeng, President of GUTA; Rashid Tanko-Computer, CEO of GIFEC; and Prof. Kwame Adom-Frimpong, Head of the Internal Audit Agency. In each case, GTEC described the misuse of academic titles such as “Dr.” and “Prof.” as deceptive and contrary to Ghana’s regulatory frameworks.
The issue is far from superficial. What is at stake is the integrity of the nation’s academic and professional institutions. Titles that should symbolize decades of scholarly work and teaching excellence are increasingly being commodified—awarded in private ceremonies, conferred by unregulated foreign bodies, and used for branding, campaigning, or public manipulation. This practice not only misleads the public but devalues the sacrifices and intellectual labor of genuine academics.
GTEC’s latest directive is a critical intervention. But more must be done. Ghana must now implement:
– A national registry of verified academic titles
– Public education on the distinction between honorary and earned titles
– Penalties for impersonation or misrepresentation of academic ranks
The title “Professor” is not ornamental. It is not symbolic. It is earned—through rigorous scholarship, teaching, research, and peer-reviewed excellence. Mr. Asiedu may be an accomplished private educator and political figure, but those achievements do not entitle him to a title that carries a globally recognized academic meaning.
As GTEC firmly stated, he must withdraw the title from all platforms and show proof of compliance—or face legal action.
Mr. Asiedu is not alone. In recent weeks, GTEC has cautioned several other public figures over similar abuses of academic titles. These include Hon. Phillis Naa Koryoo Okunor, MP for Awutu Senya East; Desmond De-Graft Paitoo, MP for Gomoa East; Dr. Joseph Obeng, President of GUTA; Rashid Tanko-Computer, CEO of GIFEC; and Prof. Kwame Adom-Frimpong, head of the Internal Audit Agency. In each case, GTEC has described the use of titles such as “Dr.” and “Prof.” without proper academic backing as misleading and contrary to Ghana’s academic protocols.
GTEC has drawn the line. Now, the nation must defend it. Ghana cannot allow academic titles to become tools of self-promotion, nor can it afford to turn the classroom into a political theatre. In this republic, titles must be earned—and earned with honour.
