The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has rolled out a national directive designed to curb the rising misuse, sale, and inappropriate awarding of honorary degrees by some higher education institutions across the country.

The new policy, issued on December 8, 2025, and endorsed by GTEC’s Director-General, Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, cautions that the unchecked spread of honorary titles—often driven by unapproved agencies and dubious partnerships is eroding academic credibility and harming Ghana’s global standing.

According to GTEC, the framework is grounded in the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023), and sets out uniform rules that all public universities and chartered private institutions must obey. The Commission also reaffirmed its authority to investigate, question, or penalize any institution that violates the guidelines.

Per the directive, institutions without accreditation, colleges under mentorship arrangements, and external organizations lacking clearance are strictly prohibited from issuing honorary degrees in Ghana. Any such recognitions, GTEC noted, will be considered invalid.

The Commission further stressed that honorary awards must not be tied to financial gifts, political motives, or personal benefit. Universities that appear to hand out these distinctions excessively or without clear justification will face sanctions, including a possible suspension of their right to grant honorary degrees.

A key aspect of the policy addresses the abuse of honorary titles. It states explicitly that honorary degree recipients are not permitted to adopt the title “Dr.” for public use. Institutions are required to educate awardees on this rule, and anyone who misrepresents their status risks having the honour revoked.

To promote accountability, universities must keep detailed records of nominations and evaluations, conduct background checks, and maintain a formal register of all honorary degrees issued. GTEC also maintains the power to annul any award found to have been improperly granted or obtained under false pretenses.

Describing the measure as timely and essential, GTEC said the policy seeks to safeguard the credibility of Ghana’s tertiary landscape, eliminate the monetisation of honorary titles, and restore confidence in academic recognitions. The directive takes effect immediately.