The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has sounded the alarm on the growing trend of individuals and institutions misusing honorary titles such as “Doctor” and “Professor”.
In a strongly-worded statement, GTEC Director-General Professor Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai warned that this practice undermines the country’s academic system and contravenes the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023).
“While the Commission acknowledges and encourages the responsible recognition of distinguished individuals… it asserts that such honours should only be conferred by accredited and duly recognised institutions within the realm of Ghanaian higher education” the statement said.
“To safeguard the integrity of Ghana’s higher education system and to uphold its deserved credibility and respect, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission demands that all stakeholders refrain from the misuse of honorary academic titles.”
GTEC’s concerns are centered on the increasing number of individuals using honorary doctoral and professorial titles as if they were earned academic qualifications. The Commission emphasizes that such honors should only be conferred by accredited and recognized institutions within Ghana’s higher education system.
The Commission’s mandate includes regulating academic titles and nomenclature. GTEC clarifies that recipients of honorary degrees should not incorporate these titles into their formal credentials or identities. Institutions and individuals who persist in violating these guidelines risk facing regulatory sanctions.
GTEC urges the public and institutions to uphold ethical standards in the conferral and usage of honorary titles.
The Commission’s warning comes as the National Accreditation Board (NAB) also expresses concerns over the abuse of honorary degrees, with some individuals buying them from unaccredited institutions.