Recent discussions in Ghana about the professorship of the Rector of Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Prof. Stephen Adei have set many asking questions about how the rank of Professor is awarded. A private newspaper, Ghanaian Observer has persistently accused the Rector as having awarded himself the highest academic honour of a Professor when he actually is not. Prof. Adei on the other hand has declined any comment on the issue presently, and has promised to comment at the appropriate time. When we posted the stories on this site, we received several comments from visitors. As a result of the feedback we have received on our networks both online and on air, myjoyonline.com made efforts to find out what the process is at the nation’s premier university, the University of Ghana, Legon. Indeed the University of Ghana has a clearly laid down procedure for rising through the ranks to the apex, which is the professorial rank. Meanwhile, one angle of the arguments as posited by some visitors of myjoyonline.com and listeners of Joy FM is that everyone who teaches in a college or a university in the United States of America is called a professor, and so therefore, there is no big deal about being called one. But a source at the University of Ghana speaking to myjoyonline.com has said that while it is true that teaching staff at primary to high school levels are referred to as teachers and all teaching staff of university and college levels are referred to as professors, there is a vast difference between people who have obtained the rank of a Professor and those who are simply called professors because they are university teachers. The source also said that someone could hold a Bachelors degree and still obtain the rank of a professor, based on the person’s academic achievements, contributions to knowledge and impact to the wider society both locally and internationally. In the US, however, one would have to go through the ranks by firstly becoming an Assistant Professor, then Associate Professor before becoming a full Professor to be able to use the title. The system in Ghana is similar to the British system. All teaching staff of universities are lecturers. But there are ranks. The following are the ranks as based on the regulations of the University of Ghana, Legon. - Assistant Lecturer - Lecturer - Senior Lecturer - Associate Professor - Full Professor. Firstly, before an applicant is appointed or promoted to any of the ranks the Academic and Promotions Board would have to assess the applicant in respect of the following: scholarship, research/contribution to knowledge, teaching, academic leadership, inventiveness and extension work/service. Other factors that the Board looks at include the applicant’s contribution to intellectual life of the University or country, contribution to University Boards/Committees, and national and international recognition. For the most part the applicant would have to also show proof of academic works published, and these publications would have been published in internationally recognized and respected academic journals. What that means according to sources at the University of Ghana is that the applicant must be peer reviewed in the area of specialization. Specifically, the promotion from Assistant Lecturer to Lecturer is done within two years of first appointment. The promotion from Senior Lecturer to Associate Professor would require that the applicant should have published a minimum of 12 academic publications in internationally acclaimed journals. And to be promoted from Associate Professor to Full Professor, the applicant should have published a minimum of 20 publications and among others should have attended international conferences and workshops. Attendance of international conferences and workshops apply to all applicants.