The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) had indicated to Dr Williams Abayaawien Atuilik of Heritage Christian University at Amasaman in Accra that his temporary Visiting Professor appointments by two US universities do not align with the formal academic ranks in Ghana.
This follows Dr Atuilik’s initial response to GTEC in a letter dated July 16, 2025, in which he explained that the Abilene Christian University (ACU) in Texas, USA, on February 11, 2022 had appointed him as a visiting Associate Professor.
Again, he stated Lubbock Christian University, also in Texas, USA, on December 19, 2023, in a letter had acknowledged that he had served as a visiting faculty member and also appointed him as a Visiting Associate Professor of Finance and Accounting.
But GTEC explained to him that the standard academic progressions to the rank of Professor within Ghana adhere to the sequence of lecturer, senior lecturer, associate professor, and professor.
Therefore, GTEC said in Dr Atuilik’s specific case, the appointments offered by Abilene Christian University and Lubbock Christian University as a Visiting Professor “were temporary in nature. “These do not align with the formal academic ranks recognised in Ghana.”
New appointment
Following that formal challenge of Dr Atuilik to provide evidence supporting his use of the title “Professor” or cease using it immediately, his employer in Ghana, the Heritage Christian University, has since appointed him to the rank of Associate Professor in accordance with approved criteria effective August 2025.
Dr Atuilik in a rejoinder to a Graphic Online publication on GTEC’s first letter dated June 17, 2025, had argued that GTEC was acting contrary to the constitution and abusing its authority by directing him to stop using the title “Professor”.
However, various correspondence between GTEC, Heritage University and Dr Atuilik seen by Graphic Online, indicates that following the series of communications since June 17, 2025, when GTEC first raised the issue, the directive has been complied with, which has culminated in Dr Atuilik’s promotion to the rank of Associate Professor effective August 2025 in accordance with the approved criteria for appointments and promotions.
It is after this promotion that Dr Williams Abayaawien Atulik issued a rejoinder.
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In a letter dated August 18, 2025, written and signed by Dr Samuel Twumasi-Ankrah, President of Heritage Christian University and addressed to GTEC, the university acknowledged GTEC’s letter of August 7, 2025 and indicated that “in our letter dated July 31, 2025, we stated that the university had informed the staff concerned [Dr Williams Abayaawien Atuilik] to comply with your directive and attach a copy of that letter to our correspondence to you.”
“We wish to bring to your notice that Dr Williams Abayaawien Atuilik has been promoted to the rank of Associate Professor of Accounting and Finance by the Council of the University in accordance with the approved criteria for Appointments and Promotions of Heritage Christian University”
“He had applied for promotion to the rank of Professor for Accounting and Finance since April 2025 and was assessed by external assessors for that rank with positive results, but the University’s Appointments and Promotions Committee and Council was guided by your notice and so appointed him as Associate Professor of Accounting and Finance instead following due process. Please see attached a copy of the letter of promotion for your information. We are thankful to you for your guidance. We look forward to your outfit to improve the quality of tertiary education in Ghana ,” the letter stated.
Background
GTEC in a letter dated June 17, 2025, had demanded that Dr Atulik provide evidence of his professorial appointment or cease using the designation.
GTEC had explained clearly that at the tertiary level in Ghana, the standard academic progressions to the rank of Professor within Ghana adhere to the sequence of lecturer, senior lecturer, associate professor and professor
Dr Atuilik in his initial response to GTEC in a letter dated July 16, 2025 had explained that the Abilene Christian University (ACU) on February 11, 2022 had appointed him as a visiting Associate Professor.
Again he stated Lubbock Christian University on December 19, 2024, in a letter had acknowledged that he had served as a visiting faculty member and also appointed him as a Visiting Associate Professor of Finance and Accounting
GTEC in a response in a letter dated July 21, 2025 had reiterated that for the avoidance of doubt, the use of honorary academic titles whether conferred by institutions in Ghana or abroad must be exercised with utmost discretion. “Tittles that hae not been formally earned through recognised academic pathways must not appear in any official, professional or public documentation. The inappropriate use of such titles undermines the credibility or academic institutions and compromises the integrity of Ghana’s higher education system.
GTEC explained that the standard academic progressions to the rank of Professor within Ghana adhere to the sequence of lecturer, senior lecturer, associate professor and professor
“In your specific case, the appointments offered by Abilene Christian Univeristy, Texas, USA, and Lubbock Christian University, Texas, as Visiting Professor were temporary in nature. These do not align with the formal academic ranks recognised in Ghana.
Source: graphic.com.gh
