Ghana bars use of honorary doctorate, professorship titles in public

Ghana has officially barred citizens from publicly using honourary doctorate degrees and professorship titles.

Ghana’s Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) said it would begin naming and shaming individuals who flout the directives and take legal action against them.

A statement signed by the commission’s Acting Deputy Director General, Augustine Ocloo, a professor, indicates that the practice, prevalent among politicians, businesspersons and clerics, tends to dilute the integrity of the higher education system, and the value of true doctoral education and promotion of the professorial system in the universities.

It also described it as deceitful and unethical.

“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 statement said.

Deceitful Doctorates

Doctorate degrees (PhD) are the highest degrees awarded by universities across the world after individuals complete their study including a dissertation. Professorship is the highest academic rank in the university obtained by individuals based on their scholarly works and achievements.

Universities usually award honorary degrees to individuals outside the university system based on their achievements in the society and contributions to their field.

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However, there have been degree mills defrauding individuals by awarding them honourary doctorate degrees for a fee, proliferating the rate at which people identify as academic doctors and professors.