The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has called on the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to take firm legal action against individuals and institutions involved in the proliferation and misuse of fake academic degrees and titles.
In a statement released on Thursday, June 26, UTAG voiced strong concern over the growing abuse and misrepresentation of honorary doctorates and fraudulent academic credentials. The Association warned that this disturbing trend undermines the integrity of Ghana’s higher education system and devalues the achievements of legitimate scholars.
“These practices trivialize the rigorous academic processes required to earn legitimate qualifications and erode public confidence in higher education and its oversight institutions,” UTAG stated.
The Association urged GTEC to go beyond administrative sanctions and pursue legal prosecution where necessary, emphasizing that harsher penalties are needed to deter academic fraud. “We urge you to intensify the clampdown, including legal prosecution where applicable,” the statement said.
The call comes amid a rise in individuals falsely claiming academic titles to enhance their public profiles in media, politics, and professional spheres—often without proper verification.
UTAG warned that such practices are creating a false standard of academic achievement and misleading the public. The Association pledged its full support to GTEC in efforts to restore credibility to the sector and urged all stakeholders—including universities and public institutions—to actively protect academic integrity.
Beyond legal measures, UTAG also called for clearer internal policies within universities on the conferment of honorary degrees, stressing that these honors should be explicitly defined and publicly presented as non-academic recognitions.
“Academic titles must be earned, not bought,” UTAG cautioned, adding that the unregulated use of honorary degrees for personal or political advantage risks turning academic accolades into a mockery.
Story By: Afia Ohenewaa Akyerem