President John Mahama has dismissed Dr. Nuhu Zakaria as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Ambulance Service, following growing public scrutiny over his alleged misuse of an academic title.
While the presidency has not released an official reason for the decision, it closely follows a directive from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), which publicly ordered Dr. Zakaria to stop referring to himself as “Professor”, a title the Commission says he had no legitimate claim to.
In a strongly worded letter dated 21 June 2024, GTEC stated that no accredited institution in Ghana or abroad had officially conferred the title on Dr. Zakaria. The Commission stressed that only institutions with a presidential charter are legally authorised to bestow such academic honors, and using the title without proper conferment constitutes misrepresentation and academic dishonesty.
“You are therefore directed to desist from using the title ‘Professor’ with immediate effect, as it has not been conferred on you by a legally mandated body,” the letter stated.
The dismissal has sparked public discussion, with many questioning whether the GTEC directive influenced the President’s decision. Although the government has yet to confirm any direct link, the timing of the dismissal has raised eyebrows.
Dr. Zakaria, an experienced emergency medical specialist, has been instrumental in shaping Ghana’s emergency response services. Under his leadership, the National Ambulance Service saw significant growth in infrastructure, personnel training, and national coverage.
His sudden removal has drawn mixed reactions, while some applaud the President’s move as a stance for integrity and transparency, others argue it overshadows Dr. Zakaria’s contributions to the health sector.
As of now, the Ministry of Health has not announced who will take over leadership of the National Ambulance Service.
The controversy has also reignited broader conversations around title inflation and the integrity of academic credentials in Ghana’s public sector.
