The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has stated that it will soon begin prosecuting and sanctioning individuals who falsely use academic titles like “Doctor” and “Professor” without earning them through the proper academic process.
The Commission says the increasing misuse of these titles, especially by those who receive honorary degrees from unaccredited institutions, is misleading and unacceptable.
Director General of GTEC, Professor Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, explained that only accredited institutions in Ghana are permitted to confer honorary degrees.
Even then, recipients are not allowed to present themselves as having earned formal academic qualifications.
He says the situation has become a serious concern, and the prosecutions will serve as a strong deterrent to others.
“We started with issuing the warning, we issued another reminder, and we are engaging in naming and shaming. If it doesn’t work, we will prosecute one or two people to serve as a deterrent to the general public. It is not an event. It is a process,” he stated.
