Ghana’s government has officially banned the public use of honorary doctorates and professorship titles, especially by individuals who use them to gain social, political, or economic influence.
This major move was announced in a statement signed by Augustine Ocloo, the Acting Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC).
According to Ocloo, the use of unearned titles such as “Dr.” or “Professor” — especially by politicians, businesspeople, and religious leaders — has become “unethical and misleading.” He emphasized that such practices are tarnishing the reputation of Ghana’s higher education system and creating public confusion about academic achievements.
This move is part of Ghana’s broader efforts to combat academic fraud, fake degrees, and the misuse of educational credentials. It also reflects growing concern about how honorary titles are being weaponized for prestige and influence, rather than being recognized as symbolic gestures with no academic weight.
