GTEC introduces policy to curb abuse of Honorary Degrees in Ghana

The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has introduced a national policy aimed at curbing the abuse, commercialisation, and improper conferment of honorary degrees by some tertiary institutions in the country.

The comprehensive national policy sighted by GhanaEducation.org was signed and issued on December 8, 2025, by the Director-General of the Commission, Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai.

Under the comprehensive honorary degree policy, unaccredited institutions, mentored colleges, and external bodies without approval are completely barred from conferring honorary degrees in Ghana.

The policy states that recipients of honorary degrees cannot use the title “Dr.”, adding that institutions must issue guidance to prevent misrepresentation.

As GTEC reserves the right to withdraw awards that were improperly granted or based on fraudulent information, any recipient who misuses the title risks having the award withdrawn.

The Tertiary Education Commission also emphasised that institutions cannot grant honorary degrees in exchange for donations, political considerations, or material influence.

GTEC further cautioned that universities that appear to confer honorary degrees excessively or without merit will be queried and may have their right to award such degrees suspended.

Describing the policy as a necessary intervention, GTEC said it aims to “protect the integrity of Ghana’s higher education system,” prevent the commercialisation of honorary awards, and rebuild public confidence in academic honours.

According to the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), the new policy, backed by the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023), takes effect immediately.

The policy comes after the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) sent its final caution to the general Public to note that henceforth, citizens with honorary doctorate and professorship should cease the use of it in public.

GTEC said such practice is deceitful and unethical, and also 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.

“The Commission would, from now onwards, in addition to naming and shaming those individuals who would be found to have flouted the GTEC directives, take legal action against them,” GTEC stated.