The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has directed Richard Kofi Asiedu, the Central Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Chief Executive Officer of St Andrews Group of Schools, to stop using the title "Doctor."

On July 31, 2025, the Commission had ordered Asiedu to cease using the title "Professor" after threatening legal action against him.

According to GTEC, its investigations revealed that the "Dr" title adopted by Asiedu is also inappropriate, as it was conferred as an honorary degree and therefore does not qualify for academic recognition.

The Commission noted that despite previous directives and Asiedu's own disclaimer regarding the "Professor" title and the honorary nature of his Doctorate, he had continued to use "Dr" in his official communications.

The directive, contained in a letter dated August 13, 2025, and signed by GTEC's Deputy Director-General, Prof Augustine Ocloo, emphasised that the Commission had still not received verifiable documentation of Asiedu's academic qualifications despite earlier requests.

The correspondence, which was copied to the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, confirmed that intelligence gathered by GTEC had verified that Asiedu's Doctorate was honorary and could not be used as an earned academic title in any public or official setting.

"Despite prior communication and your own disclaimer regarding the use of the title 'Professor' and the nature of the Doctorate, the Commission has not received the required documentation. Intelligence available to the Commission indicates that the Doctorate in question is honorary.

"As such, and in accordance with academic standards and protocols in Ghana, the use of the title 'Dr' in public or official capacities is not permissible for honorary degrees.

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"Pending the submission and successful verification of a formally earned Doctorate certificate, you are hereby directed to immediately cease the use of the title 'Doctor' or the abbreviation 'Dr' in all official, professional and public contexts," part of the letter stated.

The Commission stressed that it is undertaking a nationwide exercise to sanitise the use of unearned academic titles in Ghana following the growing trend of individuals adopting such titles without merit.

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