The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has announced new measures to curb the growing misuse of honorary doctorate and professorial titles in the country.
In a statement signed by Director-General Ahmed Jinapor Abdula, GTEC expressed concern over the rising number of individuals using titles such as “Dr” and “Prof” based on honorary awards from local and foreign institutions.
The Commission clarified that while honorary recognitions are legitimate symbolic gestures, they do not constitute formal academic qualifications and should not be used in official names or professional identities.
GTEC cited its regulatory mandate under Section 8(3)(d) of the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023), which empowers the Commission to regulate the use of academic titles in Ghana.
Under the new enforcement measures, individuals who continue to use unearned honorary titles will face sanctions. Institutions that confer these honours irresponsibly will also risk penalties.
The Commission further directed that honorary degrees should only be issued by accredited and duly recognised institutions within Ghana’s higher education system. It urged institutions to act responsibly to protect the value and credibility of formal academic qualifications.
GTEC appealed to the public to reject the misuse of honorary titles and encouraged individuals to refrain from incorporating such honours into their official credentials.
The Commission warned that persistent violations will trigger regulatory action, with sanctions applied to both individuals and institutions that deliberately misuse honorary distinctions.
GTEC reaffirmed its commitment to preserving academic integrity and called for collective efforts to maintain public trust in Ghana’s tertiary education system.
READ ALSO:
