Deputy Health Minister Hon. Prof. Dr. Grace Ayensu Danquah has vigorously defended her professorship amid renewed questions about her credentials, saying the ongoing debate is an attempt to discredit her work rather than a legitimate inquiry. In an interview a on CTV on Monday, August 18, 2025, Dr. Ayensu Danquah urged calm and due process in resolving the matter.
The controversy centers around Dr. Ayensu Danquah’s professorship title, with Prof. Ahmed Jinapor, Director-General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), having previously questioned and policed the verification of academic credentials. In response to the renewed scrutiny, the deputy minister challenged Prof. Jinapor to publish his own CV so the public could compare qualifications.
“My question is as a state regulator, are we going to settle the matter on social media? Should we be talking about the matter on social media? As a regulator, shouldn’t you be going through due process?” Dr. Ayensu Danquah asked during the interview, underscoring her belief that credential verification should follow established procedures rather than public discourse.
The deputy minister asserted that she earned the title of Professor of Surgery “long ago” and reiterated her professional commitments beyond the classroom. She stated that she maintains a campus in Utah where she heads a global surgery department, but emphasized that her primary aim is to serve Ghana and its people.
“I prefer to be here to help my people; that is why I’m here, that is why I’m not in the classroom every day,” she said, articulating a sense of duty to public service over academic prestige.
When pressed about the ongoing debate, Dr. Ayensu Danquah asserted that the controversy appears more as an attempt to undermine her accomplishments rather than a genuine verification process. She maintained that she has pursued her career with integrity and that due process should govern any credential checks.
GTEC has historically played a pivotal role in credential verification for senior academic appointments in Ghana. The agency has faced intermittent tensions with public officials over how qualifications are validated and publicly disclosed.
Calls for a transparent, rules-based resolution have grown louder among policymakers and education observers who argue that public officials should not be subjected to social media scrutiny when credential disputes arise. Supporters of the deputy minister say her achievements and service record should be weighed alongside any formal credential review conducted through proper channels.
As the story develops, observers will be watching whether GTEC, the Office of the Minister for Health, and other regulatory bodies issue a formal statement clarifying the status of Dr. Ayensu Danquah’s professorship and outlining the due-process steps to resolve credential questions.
By : Lawrence Appiani Yeboah