The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has directed the Chief Executive Officer of St. Andrews Group of Schools & Companies, Richard Kofi Asiedu, to immediately stop using the title “Doctor,” stating that his doctorate is honorary and not earned through formal academic study.
In a letter dated August 13, 2025, signed by GTEC’s Deputy Director-General, Prof. Augustine Ocloo, and copied to the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, the Commission explained that it had not received verifiable documentation of Mr. Asiedu’s claimed academic qualifications despite earlier requests.
“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,” the letter stated.
GTEC stressed that the public use of unearned academic titles is misleading and undermines the integrity of Ghana’s higher education system.
The Commission has therefore ordered Mr. Asiedu to:
- Cease using the title “Doctor” immediately.
- Submit proof that the title has been removed from all official documents, institutional profiles, websites, biographies, letterheads, and other platforms.
The regulator further warned that it takes a serious view of the misuse of academic titles, whether locally or internationally conferred, if they lack formal academic validation.
