The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has raised alarm over the growing number of people in Ghana using fake or honorary doctorate titles.

According to the Commission, the misuse of such titles undermines the integrity of the country’s higher education system and misleads the public.

Honorary titles are not academic degrees

GTEC cautioned that recipients of honorary doctorates should not prefix “Dr.” to their names, explaining that these are symbolic recognitions and not earned academic qualifications.

GTEC declares Kenneth Ashigbey's doctorate invalid, orders him to drop the title

The Commission added that several institutions awarding such titles are unaccredited and lack the legal authority to do so.

Legal backing and sanctions

Under the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023), GTEC regulates all tertiary institutions and protects the sanctity of academic credentials. Individuals who continue to use unearned or honorary titles deceptively, it warned, could face legal and reputational consequences

Analysts decry prestige obsession

Education analysts who spoke to GhanaWeb described the “fake doctorate craze” as an unhealthy obsession with prestige over merit. They warned that the practice devalues genuine scholarship and erodes trust in academia.

Call for verification

GTEC urged the media, churches, and public institutions to verify academic credentials before addressing individuals with academic titles.

For now, GhanaWeb reports that Ghana’s growing appetite for unearned honours continues to blur the line between recognition and ridicule, making some titles more hilarious than honorary.

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