UTAG warns against fake doctorates, honorary title abuse
The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) is warning against the rising trend of individuals flaunting honorary doctorate degrees and fake academic certificates from unaccredited institutions.
According to UTAG, the practice undermines the integrity of Ghana’s higher education system and threatens the credibility of legitimate academic achievements.
“We have noted with grave concern the increasing abuse and misrepresentation of such honorary titles, particularly when used for professional advancement, public deception and influence peddling,” stated a release signed by UTAG’s National President, Prof Mamudu A. Akudugu, and National Secretary, Prof Eliasu Mumuni.
The association warned that these practices trivialise the rigorous scholarly processes associated with legitimate degrees and erode public confidence in both higher education and the institutions mandated to regulate it.
Support for GTEC
UTAG expressed full support for the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) in its mandate to regulate, monitor and, where necessary, sanction individuals and organisations involved in the proliferation and misuse of unearned academic titles.
“We commend your recent public statements and actions taken against such malpractices and urge you to intensify the clampdown, including legal prosecution where applicable,” the statement noted.
The lecturers’ body also urged public institutions, civil society organisations and the media to carefully verify academic claims before offering platforms or recognition to individuals parading questionable titles.
Public Education Needed
UTAG called on the Ministry of Education and GTEC to ramp up public sensitisation campaigns on the meaning, limits and appropriate use of honorary degrees, stressing the need to distinguish between honorary awards and earned academic qualifications.
“The general public must treat with scepticism any self-styled ‘doctorates’ or ‘professorships’ not backed by accredited academic processes or awarded purely for ceremonial purposes without a clear distinction,” the statement emphasised.
Furthermore, UTAG encouraged all universities in Ghana to develop clear internal guidelines on the awarding of honorary degrees. Such guidelines, it said, should spell out the non-academic nature of these titles and be clearly communicated to recipients and the wider public.
“Academic titles must be earned, not purchased, and their use must reflect the high standards of scholarship and service that they represent,” UTAG stressed.
The association concluded by reaffirming its readiness to collaborate with GTEC and the Ministry of Education to preserve the credibility of Ghana’s academic institutions and safeguard the integrity of the country’s knowledge society.
