The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has called on the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to take legal action against individuals and institutions involved in issuing or misusing fake academic titles and honorary degrees.

In a statement released on Thursday, June 26, UTAG expressed alarm over what it described as the growing abuse and misrepresentation of honorary doctorates and fraudulent academic credentials.

The association warned that this trend undermines the integrity of Ghana’s higher education system and diminishes the work of legitimate scholars.
“These actions not only trivialise the rigorous scholarly processes associated with legitimate academic qualifications but also erode public trust in higher education and its regulatory institutions,”the letter read.

UTAG urged GTEC to go beyond administrative sanctions and pursue legal prosecutions where necessary to deter future misconduct.

The Association also noted a troubling rise in the number of individuals using fake degrees and titles to gain public attention and influence, particularly in the media and professional spaces, without facing scrutiny.

This, they cautioned, is distorting academic standards and misleading the public.

UTAG pledged to support GTEC’s efforts to restore credibility to the sector and called on all universities and relevant agencies to actively safeguard academic standards.

Additionally, the association proposed that universities adopt clearer guidelines for awarding honorary degrees and ensure these recognitions are publicly identified as non-academic.
“Academic titles must be earned, not purchased,” UTAG stated warning that the misuse of such titles for personal or political gain risks turning academic honour into a mockery.