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The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has raised concerns over the increasing misuse of honorary titles such as “Doctor” and “Professor,” cautioning individuals and institutions to desist from appending these honours to their names and credentials.
In a press statement signed by Professor Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, the Director General, GTEC expressed concern about the growing trend of individuals using honorary doctoral and professorial titles as if they were earned academic qualifications.
The Commission described the practice as misleading and unethical, warning that it contravenes provisions of 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 read.
GTEC clarified that although honorary degrees serve to recognize exceptional achievement and service, recipients are not to incorporate these titles into their formal credentials or identities. The body emphasized that it is illegal to do so, noting that it undermines the integrity of the country’s academic system.
The Commission’s mandate, under Section 8 (3)(d) of Act 1023, includes regulating the use of academic titles and nomenclature. This includes terms such as “university,” “college,” “Emeritus,” “Professor,” “Doctor,” and “Chartered.”
GTEC appealed to the public, as well as institutions within Ghana’s higher education space, to uphold ethical standards in the conferral and usage of such honours. It also urged individuals to take personal responsibility and exercise restraint.
“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,” said Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, Director-General of GTEC.
The Commission concluded with a stern warning: institutions and individuals who persist in violating these guidelines risk facing regulatory sanctions.
