President John Mahama has dismissed Dr. Nuhu Zakaria as Chief Executive Officer of the National Ambulance Service, following growing concerns over his alleged misuse of an academic title.

Although no official reason has been given for his removal, the decision comes shortly after the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) publicly directed Dr. Zakaria to stop referring to himself as “Professor,” a title the Commission stated that he had not legitimately earned.

In a letter dated June 21, 2024, GTEC directed Dr. Zakaria to cease referring to himself as “Professor,” stating unequivocally that the title had not been conferred on him by any accredited institution in Ghana or abroad.

The Commission stated that only institutions with a presidential charter are legally mandated to confer such titles, and any self-designation without proper conferment constitutes academic dishonesty and misrepresentation.

“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 GTEC letter stated.

Though it remains unclear whether the GTEC warning directly influenced the president’s decision to terminate his appointment, the timing has raised questions within the public domain.

Dr. Zakaria, a long-serving emergency medical specialist, had headed the National Ambulance Service through several key phases of its development, including the expansion of emergency response infrastructure across the country.