Ghana’s Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has officially banned the public use of honorary doctorate and professorial titles. The directive, issued this week, warns that individuals who flout the rule risk public exposure and possible legal action.
The decision comes as concerns mount over the misuse and abuse of honorary titles by public figures, religious leaders, businesspeople, and politicians. GTEC, in a statement, called the practice “unethical and misleading,” emphasizing that it undermines the value and credibility of hard-earned academic degrees in the country.
“This notice goes especially to politicians, businessmen and businesswomen, men and women of God, and any other category of persons to desist from officially using the honorary doctorate and professorship titles in their everyday life,” the statement read.
Honorary degrees, traditionally awarded to recognize an individual’s contribution to society or a field of work, are not earned through academic research or scholarly achievement. However, GTEC noted that in Ghana, these titles have increasingly become tools for status inflation, particularly by individuals with no formal academic qualifications.
The Commission lamented what it described as the “rampant and fraudulent” public display of these titles, warning that such behavior is slowly eroding the worth of genuine academic accomplishments. According to GTEC, legitimate titles such as PhDs and professorships require years of rigorous study, research, and peer-reviewed work—standards that honorary degrees do not meet.
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The announcement also spotlighted the rise of “degree mills”—unaccredited institutions that offer honorary degrees for a fee, without any academic merit. These operations, often operating online or outside regulatory oversight, have added to the problem by creating a market for academic vanity.
GTEC’s move is part of a broader campaign to protect the dignity of higher education in Ghana and ensure that academic titles remain meaningful and earned. It signals a tightening of standards and a renewed commitment to upholding the integrity of the nation’s academic system.
While the commission has not yet detailed the mechanisms for enforcement, the warning is clear: Ghana is drawing a line between earned academic achievement and ceremonial recognition—and it’s holding everyone accountable.
As the country works to sanitize its educational landscape, GTEC’s message is resonating beyond the academic world: respect for knowledge must be earned, not bought or borrowed.
