GTEC demands proof of academic title from Heritage Christian University "Professor"

The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has formally challenged Williams Abayaawien Atuilik of Heritage Christian University in Amasaman, Accra, to provide evidence supporting his use of the title "Professor" or cease using it immediately.

In a letter, GTEC expressed concerns over Atuilik's continued use of the professorial designation, stating it may lack proper academic accreditation. The Commission warned that such unverified titles undermine Ghana's higher education integrity.

"The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has taken note of your continued use of the academic title 'Professor,' specifically referring to yourself as Prof. Williams Abayaawien Atuilik," the notice read.

Williams Abayaawien Atuilik

The Commission demanded Atuilik submit "documentary evidence of [his] appointment or promotion to the rank of Associate Professor or Professor by a recognized institution," including official documentation showing the awarding authority and effective date.

Should he fail to comply, GTEC ordered the immediate discontinuation of the title across all platforms, including:

Official university documents

Institutional profiles

University websites

Official letterheads

All other public representations

The letter, signed by Prof. Augustine Ocloo, GTEC's Deputy Director-General, emphasized that "the use of such titles—particularly when they lack formal academic validation—can be misleading and is inconsistent with the established academic protocols."

This action forms part of GTEC's nationwide crackdown on unverified academic titles, with the Commission pledging to publicly identify violators and take legal action against persistent offenders.