An Associate Professor of Chemical Pathology and Consultant Chemical Pathologist, has issued a stern rebuke to the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah calling on her to demonstrate humility and respect academic conventions.
The Associate Professor, Huseini Wiisibie Alidu made this comments following recent public dispute over the use of the title “Professor.”
In a statement, Professor Alidu, criticized the Deputy Minister’s alleged remarks questioning the competence of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) boss.
“The Deputy Health Minister was wrong and must show humility!” he declared.
Professor Alidu emphasized that the GTEC boss was acting in an official capacity and not out of personal bias.
He warned that the Deputy Minister’s approach could damage her credibility and political future.
“Her personalization of the issue clearly shows an absolute lack of humility and might go against her heavily in the future if she doesn’t learn to get sober. Intellectuals don’t disagree with people for the sake of disagreement or as a feeling, you pen down what you know and explain why you think someone is wrong.”
At the heart of the controversy is the Deputy Minister’s use of the title “Professor,” which GTEC has challenged.
Professor Alidu backed the Commission’s stance, explaining that her appointment as an Assistant Professor in the U.S. does not entitle her to use the title “Professor” in Ghana or abroad.
“There is no single person anywhere in the US or Canada who has been appointed as an Assistant Professor that uses the title Professor,” he explained and added that “It is not a title you can impose on yourself or appropriate from anywhere it’s conferred by a recognized body.”
Drawing on his experience as a key architect of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) promotion guidelines, Professor Alidu asserted his authority on the matter.
“I was the UTAG President at the time the current UHAS Appointment and Promotion Guidelines were drawn. I personally had to okay the document at the University Council meeting for it to become functional. So I’m not a novice to this issue at all, in fact, I probably am an authority on this.”
He urged Dr. Ayensu-Danquah to follow the proper academic path if she wishes to earn the title legitimately.
“There are thousands of consultants in universities across the country who have followed the proper channels to earn their titles as Professors. It’s not beyond her, she just has to put in the necessary effort and patience, not arrogance and name-calling,” added Professor Alidu.
