President John Mahama has relieved Dr. Nuhu Zakaria of his duties as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Ambulance Service, amid growing controversy over his alleged misuse of the academic title “Professor.”
Although the presidency has not officially stated the reason for the dismissal, the move closely follows a directive from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) ordering Dr. Zakaria to stop using the title, which the Commission said he had not rightfully earned.
In a letter dated June 21, 2024, GTEC instructed Dr. Zakaria to cease referring to himself as “Professor,” citing that the title had not been awarded by any accredited academic institution in Ghana or internationally. The Commission emphasized that only institutions with a presidential charter are authorized to confer such titles, and any self-bestowal amounts to academic 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,” GTEC stated in its letter.
While it remains uncertain whether the GTEC directive directly influenced President Mahama’s decision, the timing of the dismissal has triggered public discussion and speculation.
Dr. Zakaria, an experienced emergency medical specialist, had been at the helm of the National Ambulance Service for several years. Under his leadership, the service witnessed significant growth, including the expansion of emergency response infrastructure and nationwide coverage.
His departure marks a sudden end to a tenure that had otherwise been viewed as impactful within Ghana’s healthcare and emergency management sectors.
