Accra: The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has announced its decision to pursue legal action against individuals who publicly use honorary doctorate titles. This move aims to uphold the integrity of academic titles and prevent the misuse of honorary distinctions.

According to Ghana News Agency, a statement signed by Professor Augustine Ocloo, the Acting Deputy-Director of GTEC, emphasized that beyond naming and shaming, legal measures will be taken against those disregarding GTEC’s directives. GTEC has issued a final warning to the public, urging citizens with honorary doctorates and professorships to refrain from using these titles in public contexts.

The directive specifically targets politicians, businesspeople, and religious figures, urging them to stop the official use of honorary doctorate and professorship titles in their engagements. The statement highlighted that such practices are considered unethical and undermine the integrity of the higher education system.

Furthermore, GTEC expressed concern that this misuse of honorary titles diminishes the value of genuine doctoral education and the promotion of the professorial system within universities. By taking legal action, GTEC aims to preserve the academic standards and respect associated with doctoral and professorial titles.