- NDC Central Regional Chairman Dr. Richard Kofi Asiedu has accused the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) of attempting to damage his reputation for political reasons.
- GTEC recently declared that Asiedu’s use of the title “Dr.” is inappropriate, claiming his doctorate is honorary.
- The commission previously challenged his use of “Professor” in July 2025, which he admitted was honorary and stopped using.
- Asiedu insists his Ph.D. from Atlantic International University (2009–2012) is academic, not honorary, and backed by transcripts.
- He blames delays in submitting documents on a legal dispute with his former spouse, who holds custody of the originals.
- The St. Andrews Group, which he leads, has issued a statement defending his credentials and accusing GTEC of acting prematurely and unfairly.
- Asiedu is expected to submit the final batch of documents to GTEC on September 25, 2025, accompanied by his legal team.
- The controversy has sparked debate over academic title verification and the politicization of regulatory bodies.
The battle over academic titles has taken a political turn as Dr. Richard Kofi Asiedu, Central Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), pushes back against claims by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) that his use of the title “Dr.” is illegitimate.
GTEC recently issued a directive stating that Asiedu’s doctorate is honorary and should not be used in any official or public capacity. This follows a similar dispute in July, when the commission challenged his use of “Professor”—a title he later dropped after admitting it was honorary.
But Asiedu isn’t backing down this time. Through a detailed statement from the St. Andrews Group of Schools and Companies, where he serves as CEO, he maintains that his doctorate is academic, earned between 2009 and 2012 at Atlantic International University in Hawaii. The group insists he possesses all relevant documents, including transcripts, and has nothing to hide.
The statement also accuses GTEC of acting in bad faith, releasing its directive to the media before allowing due process to unfold. According to the group, Asiedu had already communicated his intent to submit the documents but was delayed due to a legal dispute with his former spouse, who holds custody of the originals.
The group further outlined Asiedu’s academic journey—from HND studies at Takoradi Polytechnic to a Master’s degree at the University of Cape Coast—emphasizing that all qualifications are verifiable. It also noted his international honors, including a professorship from Alfred Nobel University in Ukraine and an honorary doctorate from Azteca University in Mexico.
Despite these accolades, Asiedu is currently not using any honorary titles, according to the group. He is expected to submit the final batch of documents to GTEC on September 25, 2025, accompanied by his lawyers.
The controversy has reignited calls for transparency in academic title usage and raised questions about whether regulatory bodies are being used to settle political scores. Asiedu’s camp is urging the media and public to allow due process to take its course and resist politicizing academic verification.
