Dr Nuhu Zakaria - CEO of the National Ambulance Service (NAS)
Dr Nuhu Zakaria - CEO of the National Ambulance Service (NAS)
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Stop using 'professor' title, you have not earned it - GTEC writes to Ambulance Service boss Dr Nuhu Zakaria

Enoch Darfah Frimpong 5 minutes read

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Ambulance Service (NAS), Dr Nuhu Zakaria is the latest addition to the long list of persons the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has cited for the inappropriate use of academic titles they have not earned in their official, professional, and public communication or documentation.

Dr Nuhu Zakaria on his part is a medical doctor (MD), which GTEC acknowledges, but the commission disapproves of his inappropriate use of the "Professor" title, which it said he has not earned.

In line with GTEC's mandate to uphold academic standards and safeguard the integrity of Ghana's higher education system, the Commission has therefore directed Dr Nuhu Zakaria to cease using the title "Professor" in all institutional, professional and public communications.

The directive has also been communicated to his employer, the Ministry of Health through the Chief Director for the appropriate enforcement action.

In the communication to him from GTEC, dated July 4, 2025, which has been seen by Graphic Online, the commission said it was expecting his full compliance and that failure to adhere to the directive may result in a legal action.

GTEC in the communication to Dr Nuhu Zakaria indicated that in his case, "there is no verifiable evidence indicating that you have held a substantive academic position."

"Accordingly, while you may continue to use the professional title of Medical Doctor (MD), the use of the title Professor is not appropriate," it added.

GTEC's campaign 

All over the world, professorial and PhD titles are held in high esteem because it is the highest earned degree in a specialised area of competence. 

So, ideally, a PhD holder should be able to produce knowledge; therefore, it stands to reason that a country with a high number of PhD holders should translate to a knowledge bank.

It is in this direction that the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has been on the path of purging the tertiary space of the use of honorary doctorates as titles and unearned professor titles.

The Commission has so far written to certain personalities after some engagement, a general notice and a final warning.

According to GTEC, some of such individuals, after the engagement, agreed to purge themselves of the titles, while others defied the warning and continued to use the honorary doctorate and professor titles as though it was earned.

Some of such individuals even put their ‘doctorate’ and 'professor'under educational achievements, a development the GTEC described as a total misrepresentation, illegal and at best criminal.

GTEC has therefore called for public support to sanitise and protect the integrity of the country’s tertiary education space.

Dr Nuhu Zakaria's issue

For the Chief Executive Officer of the National Ambulance Services, Dr Nuhu Zakaria, the commission indicated that in a correspondence with him, his attention was raised to his continuous use of the "professor" title, which, according to GTEC, he has not earned.

"For the avoidance of doubt, the use of honorary academic titles whether conferred by institutions in Ghana or abroad must be exercised with the utmost discretion.

Titles that have not been formally earned through recognised academic pathways must not appear in any official, professional, or public documentation. The inappropriate use of such titles undermines the credibility of academic institutions and compromises the integrity of Ghana's higher education system.

For GTEC, the standard academic progression to the rank of Professor within Ghana follows the sequence of Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor and Professor.

It said in contrast, the academic trajectory in the United States typically begins with the rank of Assistant Professor and that while it is common in the US to address most university-level teaching staff as "Professor," this is largely informal and does not align with the formal academic ranks recognised in Ghana.

GTEC clarified that a visiting professorship does not equate to a substantive or tenured academic appointment and that such positions are usually temporary and non tenured, offered to distinguished professionals for short-term academic engagements such as guest lecturers or collaborative research.

These appointments, it said do not carry the permanence, responsibilities or rights associated with substantive academic ranks like Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Full Professor.

According to GTEC, upon a review of the certificate issued by the University of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, which Dr Nuhu Zakaria submitted to GTEC as evidence of his professorship, it has been determined that the "Levy Family International Visiting Professorship is an honorary and non-tenured designation".

It does not confer any formal academic rank, GTEC indicated.

At best, it said the certificate serves as an acknowledgement of Dr Nuhu Zakaria's contributions to his professional field.

"In your case, there is no verifiable evidence indicating that you have held a substantive academic position.

Accordingly, while you may continue to use the professional title of Medical Doctor (MD), the use of the title Professor is not appropriate."

"In line with GTEC's mandate to uphold academic standards and safeguard the integrity of Ghana's higher education system, you are hereby directed to cease using the title "Professor" in all institutional, professional, and public communications.

This directive is being communicated to your employer, the Ministry of Health, through the Chief Director for appropriate enforcement action.

"The commission expects your full compliance. Please be advised that failure to adhere to this directive may result in legal action," the GTEC letter indicated.

Writer's email: enoch.frimpong@graphic.com.gh 

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