The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) is facing mounting public pressure after a directive issued by its Deputy Director-General, Prof. Augustine Ocloo, was branded as unlawful, biased, and an abuse of office.
In a strongly worded statement, Dr. Collins Eli Asilevi, a senior health professional, condemned Prof. Ocloo’s letter dated August 8, 2025, which restricted the use of the title “Doctor” to PhD holders and a few selected professional undergraduate doctorates—Doctor of Medicine (DM), Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), and Doctor of Dentistry (DD).
The directive, Dr. Asilevi argued, deliberately excluded other accredited professional doctorates such as the Doctor of Medical Laboratory Science (MLS.D), Doctor of Optometry (O.D.), and Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.), thereby creating what he called “a discriminatory and unlawful precedent.”
Abuse of Office and Breach of Constitution
“This so-called clarification is arbitrary, capricious, and unlawful,” Dr. Asilevi stated, insisting that the directive offends both the 1992 Constitution and GTEC’s statutory mandate. He cited Articles 23 and 296 of the Constitution, which bar administrative officials from acting with bias, arbitrariness, or personal prejudice.
He further accused Prof. Ocloo of attempting to use his position to undermine professions outside his field of biochemistry, suggesting the move was driven by “personal motives rather than law or established practice.”
Mandate Overstepped
Professional titles in Ghana, Dr. Asilevi explained, are regulated by statutory councils such as the Medical and Dental Council, Pharmacy Council, and Allied Health Professions Council—not GTEC. By attempting to dictate who qualifies as “Doctor,” the Commission has gone beyond its lawful role of accreditation and quality assurance.
He reminded the public that in 2018, the then National Accreditation Board (NAB) and the National Council for Tertiary Education officially recognized all professional doctorates—including MBChB, Pharm.D., MLS.D., and O.D.—as equivalent counterparts. That recognition, backed by the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023), remains in force.
Demand for Withdrawal and Apology
Calling the directive “null and void,” Dr. Asilevi urged the public and affected professionals to disregard it. He demanded that GTEC:
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Immediately withdraw the controversial letter.
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Issue a public apology to professionals holding MLS.D, Pharm.D., and O.D. degrees.
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Put safeguards in place to prevent officials from using their positions to pursue personal vendettas.
He further encouraged medical laboratory scientists, pharmacists, and optometrists not to be demoralized but to remain steadfast in delivering essential services to the Ghanaian public.
“GTEC must not be turned into a tool for personal bias. The Commission’s duty is to strengthen education standards, not to undermine professions or sow division,” Dr. Asilevi stressed.
Source: Ivy Priscilla Setordjie
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