The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Ambulance Service (NAS), Dr. Nuhu Zakaria, has been flagged by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) for inappropriately using the academic title “Professor”.
While GTEC acknowledges Dr. Zakaria’s legitimate credentials as a medical doctor (MD), it has directed him to immediately cease using the “Professor” title in all official, professional, and public communications. The Commission emphasized that there is no verifiable evidence of him holding a substantive academic position that would justify the title.
GTEC’s directive has also been forwarded to Dr. Zakaria’s employer, the Ministry of Health, for enforcement. The Commission clarified that the “Levy Family International Visiting Professorship” certificate he submitted from the University of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, is an honorary and non-tenured designation—not a formal academic rank. While the certificate acknowledges his professional contributions, it does not grant him the right to use the title “Professor.” GTEC warned that failure to comply could result in legal action, reinforcing its commitment to upholding academic integrity in Ghana’s higher education system.
This case adds Dr. Zakaria to a growing list of individuals GTEC has reprimanded for misusing unearned academic titles. Some offenders have complied after engagements, while others continue to defy the warnings. GTEC’s crackdown aims to curb the misuse of honorary titles, ensuring that only those who have legitimately earned academic ranks use them. The Commission remains steadfast in preserving the credibility of Ghana’s academic and professional landscape.
