The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) is stepping up its efforts to combat the misuse of unearned academic titles, now targeting members of Ghana’s Parliament. According to a graphiconline.com report, as of Monday, June 16, 2025, two Members of Parliament (MPs) and a prominent public official have received official notices from the Commission, instructing them to stop using honorary academic titles without proper academic justification.
GTEC has formally written to Phillis Naa Koryoo Okunor, the MP for Awutu Senya East, and Desmond De-Graft Paitoo, the MP for Gomoa East. Both represent constituencies in Ghana’s Central Region. These correspondences direct them to cease using the title “Doctor” (Dr) in all official and public communications, citing a lack of verifiable academic credentials to support its use.
The Commission asserts that the indiscriminate use of such titles, particularly when based on honorary awards rather than genuine academic achievement, is misleading and violates Ghana’s educational regulations, specifically the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023). GTEC views this growing trend as unethical and a threat to academic integrity.
In a letter dated June 16, 2025, addressed to Naa Koryoo Okunor, who also serves on the board of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), GTEC instructed her to remove the “Dr” title from all public and professional platforms, including official documents, institutional websites, letterheads, and public profiles. She has been asked to provide evidence of compliance promptly.
Similarly, in a letter dated June 3, 2025, Desmond De-Graft Paitoo was directed to clarify the origin of his doctoral title. GTEC demanded he disclose whether the title was earned or honorary, name the awarding institution, and outline the conferment process. Until this documentation is provided, he has been ordered to stop using the “Dr” title. GTEC has warned that failure to comply by the June 30, 2025, deadline could result in sanctions under its regulatory authority.
In addition to the MPs, GTEC has also raised concerns about Kwame Adom-Frimpong, a board member of the Internal Audit Agency, regarding his use of the title “Professor.” In a letter dated June 16, 2025, the Commission stated that unless he can provide a formal appointment or promotion letter from a recognized academic institution confirming his professorial status, he must cease referring to himself as “Prof. Kwame Adom-Frimpong.” The Commission emphasized that the use of academic ranks like “Professor” must adhere to recognized academic protocols and requested Adom-Frimpong to submit official documentation verifying his appointment and to remove the title from all professional and public platforms.
Source: http://thepressradio.com
