GTEC Challenges Grace Ayensu-Danquah False Professor Claim
During her vetting as deputy health minister-designate, the Grace Ayensu-Danquah controversy erupted over her use of the “Professor” title. Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin questioned her claim after she appeared on Facebook as “Prof. Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah.”
She claimed she was “a full professor of surgery at the University of Utah and a professor of global surgery,” citing numerous research papers and theses. However, her CV lists only 13 works, most presented orally, with few published.
The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) confirmed she is not a full professor and instructed her to stop using the title. A letter from the University of Utah dated August 7, 2025, states she is an “adjunct assistant professor of surgery,” a role she has held since 2018.
Her lawyers admitted she is an assistant professor but omitted the “adjunct” designation. Experts note that adjunct assistant professors are equivalent to part-time lecturers and cannot claim full professorship in the U.S. or Ghana. Full professorship requires progression through associate professor and demonstrated academic achievements.
GTEC reportedly met with Dr. Ayensu-Danquah on July 31, 2025, urging her to stop using the title. She refused, escalating the issue. Observers argue that clinging to an unearned title damages credibility, regardless of her service as a doctor, MP, or minister.
The incident highlights the importance of academic integrity. GTEC’s intervention is seen as a positive step in maintaining standards and discouraging false claims in Ghanaian academia.
Source: Manasseh Azure Awuni, Facebook
