Grace Ayensu Danquah’s Lawyers Accuse GTEC of Bias, Threaten Court Action

Lawyers for Hon. Dr. Grace Ayensu Danquah, Deputy Minister for Health and Member of Parliament for Essikadu-Ketan, have accused the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) of bias and threatened legal action over what they describe as an “unfounded attack” on her academic and professional credentials.

In a strongly-worded letter addressed to GTEC’s Director-General, Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdullai, and signed by solicitor David K. Ametepe, Esq., the legal team criticised the Commission’s correspondence as “abrasive, unnecessarily combative, and in parts, disparaging.”

They argued that GTEC’s assessment lacked transparency, citing no clear criteria, regulatory framework, or published guidelines to justify its conclusions. “This lack of procedural clarity raises legitimate apprehension that the process was unguided and influenced by subjective or extraneous considerations,” the lawyers stated.

The legal team also took issue with GTEC’s decision to copy its correspondence to Parliament, the Presidency, and even the Chief of Staff, describing it as “wholly improper and potentially defamatory.” They stressed that Dr. Ayensu Danquah never sought her political appointments on the basis of her academic titles.

On GTEC’s claims that she misrepresented her academic standing, the lawyers dismissed the allegations, clarifying that there is no legal or professional prohibition against her being addressed as “Professor.” They argued that in the United States—where she obtained the title—both tenure-track and non-tenure-track faculty are formally recognised as professors.

The letter further accused the Commission of misinterpreting international academic norms and overstepping its statutory role under the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023). “Rather than acknowledging that a respected academic institution has appointed her to a position which confers that title, the Commission issued dismissive and conclusory statements suggesting that she was ‘no more than a part-time lecturer,’” the lawyers noted.

They argued that GTEC’s approach undermines global standards such as the UNESCO Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education (2019) and the Lisbon Recognition Convention, which defer to the authority of recognised foreign institutions.

The legal team has demanded full disclosure of the process GTEC used in reaching its conclusions, the legal basis for assessing their client’s credentials, and evidence that Dr. Ayensu Danquah was given an opportunity to respond before the Commission issued its letter.

They cautioned that if GTEC fails to respond within 14 days, their client will explore legal remedies, including certiorari, mandamus, and declaratory relief, to protect her reputation.

“We trust that this matter will receive your urgent attention and that the Commission will take steps to realign its approach to ensure its actions remain within the confines of the law and the principles of fair administrative justice,” the letter concluded.