The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has strongly denied claims that it is targeting specific individuals in its intensified crackdown on the misuse of honorary titles.
According to the regulatory body, its ongoing efforts are part of a broader national campaign to protect academic integrity within Ghana’s tertiary education landscape.
This follows concerns raised by Member of Parliament for Gomoa East, Desmond De-Graft Paitoo—one of several individuals under GTEC’s scrutiny for the use of the ‘Dr’ title. The MP accused the Commission of pursuing a personal agenda after GTEC formally requested him to disclose the institution that awarded him the title, the nature of the doctorate (earned or honorary), and the date it was conferred.
In an interview with MyJoyOnline, Professor Augustine Ocloo, Deputy Director-General of GTEC, addressed the concerns, stressing the commission’s impartiality.
“We are not targeting any individual. We’re just trying to clean that space. We want to clean it and be a country that has law-abiding citizens,” Professor Ocloo said.
Preserving the Sanctity of Earned Titles
Professor Ocloo reiterated the Commission’s commitment to aligning Ghana with international best practices in academic title usage. He stressed the importance of distinguishing between earned and honorary academic titles.
He noted that titles such as “Dr” (for PhD holders) and “Professor” are reserved for individuals who have completed accredited academic programs and met rigorous scholarly standards.
“Honorary degrees are symbolic recognitions for societal contributions—not academic achievements,” he explained.
GTEC argues that the widespread public misuse of such titles undermines academic motivation and credibility.
“If we don’t guard against the misuse of these titles, we risk demotivating hard-working citizens who strive to earn them through academic rigour,” Professor Ocloo cautioned.
He described instances where individuals receive honorary titles after making donations or funding infrastructure projects, only to begin parading themselves as academic doctors.
“This practice dilutes the value of genuine qualifications,” he said, warning that it could erode public respect for those who pursue challenging academic paths, like PhDs, which often require three to five years of dedicated research and study.
Global Norms and Aggressive Enforcement
Professor Ocloo emphasized that in most parts of the world, honorary titles are not used in formal settings.
“All over the world, honorary titles are not used. Some people have five honorary degrees—and still don’t use the title. Because it’s not something you’ve earned,” he stated.
GTEC, formed under the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023) by merging the National Accreditation Board (NAB) and the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE), has documented a sharp rise in title misuse. This includes “honorary professor” designations, unaccredited online degrees, and even AI-generated certificates in what GTEC now refers to as the “AI era.”
The Commission has moved from issuing general advisories to sending direct letters to offenders. In April, it began public press statements and is now actively engaging individuals found to be in violation.
Professor Ocloo warned that GTEC will escalate enforcement if needed.
“Beyond that, we have other options. We can ask institutions that conferred the degrees to revoke them, and we also have legal avenues we can pursue,” he revealed.
GTEC has identified between 10 and 20 cases in just the past two weeks, with new reports coming in daily.
Professor Ocloo called on the public—particularly the media—to support the clean-up process and help ensure accuracy when referring to titles.
“Until recently, people didn’t know that some of those calling themselves ‘doctor’ are not,” he said.
He urged full public cooperation to protect the value of academic titles in Ghana.
“If our doors are open, people should reach out. Because if we are not careful, we won’t be able to sustain the integrity of our education system,” he concluded.