I didn’t know it was wrong: NDC Chair drops Professor title after GTEC warning

The Central Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Richard Kofi Asiedu, has formally dropped the use of the title “Professor” following a caution from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) that the title was being used in breach of regulatory standards.

In a public disclaimer issued on Friday, August 1, 2025, Mr Asiedu confirmed his compliance with GTEC’s directive and clarified that the title he had used for the past three years was honorary and not earned through an academic promotion process.

“As a law-abiding citizen, I have duly obliged the notice by GTEC and have accordingly ceased using the title of professor,” Mr Asiedu stated.

GTEC, in a letter dated July 28, 2024, reminded Mr Asiedu of an earlier instruction issued on June 2, 2025, which required him to stop using the title and to submit documentation removing it from all public platforms. The Commission cited Section 8(4)(d) of the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023), which prohibits the use of academic titles unless legitimately earned through accredited academic processes.

Responding to the Commission’s concerns, Mr Asiedu explained that the title had been conferred on him honorarily by Alfred Nobel University in Ukraine in recognition of his work in human development.

“I did not know that honorary titles could not be used until this prompting by GTEC,” he said. “I want to put it on record that I did not chase the title on a whim. Alfred Nobel University, an internationally recognised and accredited university based in Dnipro, Ukraine, followed my contributions to human development and consequently conferred the title on me, which I have used over the last three years.”

Mr Asiedu concluded his notice by urging the public to take note of the change and act accordingly.