The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has launched a thorough national policy designed to eliminate the increasing misuse, commercialization, and inappropriate awarding of honorary degrees by certain tertiary institutions throughout the nation.
The policy, which was signed by GTEC’s Director-General, Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, and released on December 8, 2025, cautions that the unchecked increase of honorary awards — frequently facilitated by unaccredited organizations and dubious partnerships — is compromising academic integrity and harming Ghana’s global standing.
GTEC stated that the new framework, supported by the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023), sets forth stringent national standards that all public and chartered private universities are required to adhere to. It also reaffirms the Commission’s complete legal authority to investigate, question, or penalize any institution that violates these regulations.
According to the policy, unaccredited institutions, mentored colleges, and unauthorized external bodies are entirely prohibited from awarding honorary degrees in Ghana.
GTEC emphasized that any such awards will not be acknowledged.
The Commission also highlighted that institutions are not permitted to confer honorary degrees in return for donations, political favors, or material influence. Furthermore, GTEC warned that universities that seem to award honorary degrees excessively or without justification will be questioned and may face suspension of their rights to grant such degrees.
A significant aspect of the directive is its firm position against the misuse of honorary titles. The policy explicitly states that recipients of honorary degrees are not allowed to use the title “Dr.”, and institutions must provide guidance to prevent misrepresentation. Any recipient who misuses this title risks having their award revoked.
To promote transparency, institutions are required to document all nomination and vetting procedures, perform due diligence — including integrity assessments — and keep formal records of all honorary degrees awarded.
GTEC retains the authority to revoke awards that were incorrectly awarded or based on deceitful information.
Characterizing the policy as an essential measure, GTEC stated its objective is to “safeguard the integrity of Ghana’s higher education system,” avert the commercialization of honorary awards, and restore public trust in academic distinctions.
The Commission announced that the policy is effective immediately.
