Former Deputy Minister of State at the Presidency, Victoria Bright, has jumped to the defence of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) amid the heated public debate over the use of academic titles.
The former Kufuor-era appointee insists that the Commission is not targeting anyone unfairly but rather safeguarding the integrity of Ghana’s education system.
Her comments follow the ongoing standoff between GTEC and Deputy Health Minister, Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah, over her use of the title “Professor.” GTEC’s Director-General, Professor Ahmed Abdulai Jinapor, recently dismissed a two-week ultimatum issued by Dr. Ayensu-Danquah’s lawyers, arguing that her claim to the rank lacked credible evidence.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express on Monday, August 18, Ms. Bright strongly rejected suggestions that GTEC’s actions were politically motivated or a form of persecution.
“What GTEC is doing is not a witch-hunt. If you have the degree, just produce it — end of story. I don’t understand why people are portraying themselves as victims,” she said.
According to her, the issue transcends personal pride and touches directly on Ghana’s credibility, fairness, and international reputation.
“It’s about protecting credibility, fairness, our international reputation as a country. What GTEC is doing is not illegal. It is legal — and they are simply doing their job. Undermining them only weakens our education system,” she stressed.
Ms. Bright further cautioned against the dangers of allowing fake credentials to fester in the system, warning that it could have devastating consequences for critical professions.
“We have fake doctors. I once read about a man who performed surgeries without any medical qualifications. Such people can kill others. The same goes for unqualified teachers — they destroy children’s futures,” she noted.
She described the practice of using unearned titles as a threat to national progress, urging Ghanaians to reject mediocrity and hold individuals accountable.
“We must stop celebrating mediocrity. If we are serious about resetting this country, then everything that portrays us in a negative light must stop. Year after year, we’ve repeated the same mistakes — and it’s enough,” she declared.
Her message was clear and uncompromising: only those who have rightfully earned academic and professional titles should use them.
