BREAKING: Ghana Bans Public Use of Honorary Doctorate and Professorial Titles

The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has issued a final and firm directive prohibiting the public use of honorary doctoral and professorial titles across the country. In a letter dated 30th May 2025, addressed to all media outlets, the Commission cautioned that individuals awarded such honorary titles must cease using them in any public context with immediate effect.

TJ News Nigeria reports that the official circular was signed by Prof. Augustine Ocloo, Acting Deputy Director-General of GTEC, on behalf of the Director-General. The Commission emphasized that the practice of publicly using honorary academic titles is “deceitful and unethical”, and undermines the credibility of Ghana’s higher education system.

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Focus on Politicians, Religious Leaders, and Businesspeople

According to the statement, the ban specifically targets:

• Politicians

• Businessmen and businesswomen

• Men and women of God (religious leaders)

• Other public figures

These groups have been advised to desist from attaching honorary doctorate and professorship titles to their names in everyday usage or official engagements.

“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 memo reads.

GTEC Threatens Legal Action

GTEC maintained that using honorary titles publicly dilutes the integrity of the academic and tertiary education system, thereby devaluing genuine doctoral and professorial credentials earned through academic rigor.

The Commission warned that it would now begin naming and shaming violators. Furthermore, legal action may be pursued against those who defy the directive.

“The Commission would, from now onwards, in addition to naming and shaming those individuals who would be found to have flouted the GTEC directives, take legal action against them,” the statement added.

Context and Background

This latest directive reiterates previous warnings issued by GTEC concerning the abuse of honorary titles. The Commission believes the misuse of these titles misleads the public and creates a false equivalence with earned academic degrees from accredited institutions.

GTEC’s position aligns with international best practices where honorary degrees are conferred strictly as symbolic recognitions and are not meant to be used as official academic or professional titles.

Contact Details and Location

The letter also provides GTEC’s contact details and office location for further inquiries:

• Office Location: East Legon – Trinity, IPS Road, Adjacent Chartered Institute of Bankers Ghana, Accra

• Tel: +233-30-7801666, +233-20-9989414, +233-20-9989413

• Email: [email protected]

• Website: www.gtec.edu.gh

TJ News Nigeria gathered that the latest move has stirred debates across Ghana’s academic and religious communities, especially among high-profile individuals who have long flaunted honorary titles at public functions and on media platforms.