GTEG urged to crackdown and prosecute fake degree holders

The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) as been urged to crackdown and prosecute fake degree holders in Ghana to sanitize the educator sector and weed out persons who do not officially merit education based titles they prophess publickly.

The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has urged the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC). They called on GTEC to take decisive legal actionto halt the worrying practice among Ghanaians.

Call was made by University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG)  in a statment issued on Thursday, June 26, UTAG expressed deep concern over what it termed as the increasing abuse and misrepresentation of honorary doctorates and fraudulent academic certificates. According to UTAG, the spread and misuse of fake academic degrees and titles must be dealt with for good.

The associate spoke against the current trend and warned that such fake titled and degree do not only threatens the credibility of Ghana’s higher education system and disrespects the scholarly efforts of legitimate academics.

“These actions not only trivialise the rigorous scholarly processes associated with legitimate academic qualifications but also erode public trust in higher education and its regulatory institutions,” UTAG stated.

Crackdown and prosecute fake degree holders – What UTAG demanded

UTAG specifically called on GTEC to intensify its monitoring and regulatory role and not hesitate to initiate legal prosecution where applicable. The Association emphasised that sanctions alone are not enough and that deterrent legal measures must be taken to halt the growing illegality surrounding academic fraud.

“We urge you to intensify the clampdown, including legal prosecution where applicable,” the statement urged GTEC.

This call comes amid a rise in individuals brandishing fake academic titles to gain influence in public life, media, and professional settings, often without scrutiny. UTAG fears the trend is creating a distorted standard for academic achievement and enabling public deception.

The Association pledged full support to GTEC in efforts to clean up the sector, and encouraged all relevant stakeholders from public agencies to universities to play an active role in defending academic integrity.

READ: Restore Academic Calendar: Education Minister To WAEC, GES
In addition to prosecutions, UTAG called for clearer internal guidelines within universities on the awarding of honorary degrees, and for these to be publicly communicated as non-academic recognitions.

READ: New 2025 school placement portal designed ahead of BECE results, placements

“Academic titles must be earned, not purchased,” UTAG warned, adding that the unregulated use of such titles for social or political gain risks turning academic recognition into a farce.