Editorial: Kudos To GTEC For Fighting Fake Doctorate & Professor Titles

The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has stated that its directive on the usage of the honorary ‘Doctor’ title is to sanitise the system and give honour and recognition to true academic title holders.

The Director-General of the GTEC, Professor Ahmed Jinapor, explained that historically, Ghana had been known for its high standards in quality tertiary education and delivery where higher education credentials such as doctorate and professorship were obtained.

“So, if we do not put a check on this wanton use of unearned academic titles, then every Ghanaian, through whatever means, will be called a doctor or a professor, and Ghana will become a laughing stock. We cannot allow that to happen,” he stressed.

Prof. Jinapor said honorary academic titles should not be captured on a curriculum vitae (CV), adding that the worst of all was when such individuals put an honorary doctorate under educational achievements.

Recently, GTEC has been on the path to purge the system of honorary doctorate and professorship as titles. It has so far written to some individuals to stop using their honorary academic titles after general warnings. People in academia, especially, have welcomed the move to sanitise the space.

In recent years, the honorary “Doctor” title has been cheapened by excessive, and often fraudulent, conferment by unaccredited institutions and organizations.

Politicians, entertainers, businessmen and even pastors have been showered with these titles, many of whom proudly prefix “Dr.” to their names in public spaces, social media and official documents — without having gone through the intellectual rigour that defines the attainment of a PhD or similar degree.

This is not to undermine the symbolic value of honorary degrees. Globally, reputable institutions occasionally bestow such honours to individuals who have made significant societal contributions.

However, even in those instances, the recipients do not typically use the title “Doctor” in official or professional capacities. Here in Ghana, we can cite the late former President Jerry John Rawlings as an example. Though he was awarded an honorary doctor’s degree, he never used the title until his death.

In our view, the misuse of honorary titles in Ghana can have far-reaching implications. Firstly, it may undermine the achievements of scholars who have spent years in academic trenches conducting research, defending dissertations, publishing peer-reviewed work and contributing to knowledge production.

Their hard-earned “Doctor” title becomes indistinguishable from those handed out in weekend ceremonies by dubious organizations.

Secondly, this trend erodes public trust in academic institutions. When unqualified individuals use academic titles to build credibility, especially in sectors like politics, health or religion, it leads to misinformation, misplaced authority and in some cases, outright fraud. For instance, the public may be misled to follow a “Dr.” who has no medical or scientific training, but presents himself as an expert.

Moreover, the global reputation of Ghana’s academic system is at stake. The proliferation of honorary titles without regulation paints a picture of a country where titles can be bought or gifted, rather than earned. This devalues Ghanaian degrees in the international arena and may ultimately affect global collaborations, research funding, and institutional rankings.

What GTEC is pushing for is not punitive but it is corrective. Ghana needs to build a culture where academic honesty and intellectual achievement are celebrated without dilution. Honorary titles can still be given as a form of commendation, but recipients must understand the boundaries of their use.

This also calls for wider public education. Media houses, event organizers and professional associations must be sensitised to recognise and respect the difference between honorary and earned academic titles. Employers should scrutinise CVs and public institutions must reject documents that misrepresent honorary awards as educational qualifications.

 

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