The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has announced strict new measures to curb the growing misuse of honorary doctorate and professorial titles in the country.
In a statement signed by its Director-General, Ahmed Jinapor Abdula, and published on the Commission’s official website, GTEC said the actions are necessary to protect the integrity of Ghana’s higher education system and prevent the public from being misled.
The Commission expressed alarm at the increasing number of individuals adopting titles such as “Dr” and “Prof” after receiving honorary awards from institutions both locally and abroad.
According to GTEC, “These honours, while valid as symbolic recognition, are not academic qualifications and must not be used as part of any recipient’s official name or professional identity.”
GTEC reaffirmed its authority under Section 8 (3)(d) of the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023), which empowers the Commission to regulate the use of higher education titles.
Under the new enforcement regime:
– Individuals who continue to style themselves with honorary titles will face sanctions.
– Institutions that confer such honours irresponsibly may also be penalised.
– Honorary degrees must only be awarded by accredited and duly recognised institutions within Ghana’s higher education space.
The Commission urged institutions to exercise restraint in issuing honorary distinctions, stressing the need to preserve the credibility of formal academic pathways. It also appealed to the public to reject the misuse of these titles, encouraging individuals to uphold personal responsibility by refraining from adding honorary honours to their official credentials.
GTEC warned that persistent disregard for these directives will trigger regulatory intervention, with sanctions aimed at protecting the credibility of genuine doctoral and professorial qualifications.
Concluding its statement, the Commission reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding Ghana’s tertiary education landscape. It called for collective action to maintain academic integrity and public trust.
