The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has revealed that Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, was advised in a private meeting with the GTEC Board Chairman to stop using the 'Professor' title, but she refused to heed the advice.

This comes as the deputy minister's lawyers have issued a two-week ultimatum to GTEC demanding a retraction on the matter.

Speaking on Joy FM's Midday News, GTEC's Director-General, Professor Ahmed Abdulai Jinapor, confirmed the prior meeting, stating that the commission is not interested in engaging in a public spat but in upholding academic standards.

"We gave the Honourable Minister the opportunity to meet the Board Chairman of GTEC at the place of her convenience and the time of her choice," Prof. Jinapor said, adding that the chairman "persuaded her to stay away from using that title informed by the narrative that she gave. She didn't heed to that".

Professor Jinapor outlined a series of conflicting statements from the Minister's camp, which he believes has created "confusion". He noted that Dr. Ayensu-Danquah initially claimed on national television that she was a full professor from the University of Utah. However, her lawyers later wrote to GTEC stating that she was an assistant professor.

GTEC's investigation, based on a letter from the University of Utah, found that she holds the rank of an adjunct assistant professor.

Professor Jinapor did not mince words when discussing the role of the deputy minister's legal team.

He attributed the ongoing inconsistencies to their advice.

"I must say on authority, I think the issues pertaining to all these inconsistencies probably, is emanating from the advice by her lawyers," he stated. He added, "I don't think they are doing a good service to her when we look at all that is going on."

He concluded by offering blunt advice: "I think the lawyers need to be fired."

The GTEC Director-General stressed that the commission is still awaiting a formal appointment document from Dr. Ayensu-Danquah to resolve the matter.