By: Kenneth Appiah Bani
Williams Abayaawien Atuilik, a faculty member of Heritage Christian University, has openly challenged the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) after the regulator directed him to stop using the academic title “Professor.”
The controversy stems from a letter issued by GTEC on June 19, 2025, requesting Atuilik to provide evidence of his professorial appointment or immediately desist from using the designation. According to GTEC, the directive forms part of efforts to uphold standards and curb the misuse of academic titles within Ghana’s higher education sector.
In a strongly worded circular, Atuilik accused GTEC of acting outside its constitutional mandate and abusing its authority. He claimed that the commission’s actions not only undermine his professional standing but also raise broader concerns about academic freedom and due process.
“My attention was drawn to a publication circulated on social media on 19th June, 2025 that I had been directed by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to provide evidence of my appointment as a professor or stop using the title. I saw this publication before I received a letter from GTEC to that effect,” he stated.
He explained that prior to the circulated publication and the subsequent letter, he had not received any formal communication from GTEC on the matter. After receiving the letter, however, Atuilik responded by providing documentation of his appointments as Visiting Associate Professor of Accounting in the College of Business Administration at Abilene Christian University, and later as Visiting Associate Professor of Accounting and Finance in the School of Business at Lubbock Christian University.
“These appointments were not honorary, as they were preceded by assessments of my publications, teaching experience and evidence of community service,” Atuilik clarified.
He further noted that his curriculum vitae, official profiles, institutional websites, letterheads, and other professional records at the time of the publication all reflected his appointment as a Visiting Associate Professor by the two U.S.-based universities.
Atuilik said GTEC, in its response to his reply, argued that persons appointed as Visiting Associate Professors cannot use the title “Professor.” The commission cited section 8(4)(d) of the Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023), which gives GTEC the authority to regulate the use of higher education nomenclature and titles including “University,” “College,” “Emeritus,” “Professor,” “Doctor,” “Chartered,” and related terms.
However, Atuilik stressed that GTEC did not cite any specific regulations, notices, circulars, or guidelines issued by Parliament or the Commission itself to guide the implementation of this authority.
“Until the above publication and subsequent letters I received from GTEC, I had not been and am still not aware of any law or regulation; notice, circular or any formal communication issued by GTEC or any other person with authority to regulate the use of academic titles, prohibiting a person appointed as Visiting Associate Professor by an accredited university from using the title Professor,” he argued.
The matter has since sparked debate among education stakeholders, with some supporting GTEC’s move as necessary for protecting the integrity of academic titles, while others argue that the commission may have overstepped its powers.
As of now, GTEC has not publicly responded to Atuilik’s latest statements. It remains unclear whether the case will escalate into legal action or be resolved through dialogue between the regulator and the Heritage Christian University academic.
