Ghana has intensified efforts to confront fraudulent academic claims, with civil society lending strong support to the government’s verification campaign.
Ghana Education Watch (EduWatch), a leading education accountability body, has publicly endorsed the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission’s (GTEC) scrutiny of dubious credentials, emphasizing the importance of transparency among public officials.
Kofi Asare, Executive Director of EduWatch, praised GTEC for “doing a very good job” in examining questionable qualifications, following the commission’s high-profile inquiry into Deputy Health Minister Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah’s professorial claims.
In a statement on Facebook, Asare urged citizens to support the commission’s efforts, highlighting the broader need for accountability in public service.
The controversy arose when GTEC requested that Dr. Ayensu-Danquah provide evidence of her professorship by August 11. Submitted documents revealed her role as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Utah—a part-time appointment distinct from the full professorship previously cited.
“The Commission concludes Dr. Ayensu-Danquah does not hold the title of Professor in any capacity,” GTEC stated in its official letter. Her legal team, however, contended that the commission lacked authority over foreign appointments, arguing that her Utah affiliation remained legitimate.
The case has drawn attention to the fine distinctions in academic titles, particularly the significance of the “Adjunct” designation, which signals limited teaching responsibilities and part-time status rather than full professorial authority.
EduWatch’s intervention signals growing civil society demand for rigorous checks on public officials’ academic claims. As Asare noted, ensuring transparency in credentials is not merely bureaucratic—it underpins public trust and the integrity of governance.
Observers say the dispute highlights a wider challenge in Ghana and across Africa, where misrepresentation of academic qualifications can undermine confidence in government institutions and erode public accountability.
By supporting GTEC’s verification campaign, EduWatch hopes to set a precedent, discouraging officials from inflating their qualifications and reinforcing the importance of honesty in public office.
The unfolding debate underscores that, in Ghana, academic integrity is increasingly being seen as inseparable from the credibility of governance itself.
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