The Ghanaian government is stepping up efforts to regulate the misuse of honorary degrees and professorial titles, in a move aimed at curbing what officials describe as a growing culture of “academic fraudulence.”
The country’s Ministry of Education has announced a policy directive targeting institutions and individuals found to be awarding or using unaccredited academic honors.
The decision comes after a surge in complaints about the unchecked spread of fake doctorates and self-conferred professorships, many of which are conferred by unrecognized bodies or purchased outright online.
While the issue has drawn scrutiny in Ghana, the phenomenon is far from isolated. Across West Africa particularly in Nigeria social media is saturated with public figures, clergy, entertainers, and even politicians adopting the titles “Dr.” or “Professor” with little to no verified academic background.
The honorary title culture has blurred the lines between earned academic merit and symbolic recognition, with many questioning the integrity of these titles and the institutions behind them.
Educational experts argue that the proliferation of unverified academic honors threatens the credibility of higher education in the region and creates an uneven playing field for scholars who have completed rigorous academic programs.
Ghana’s decisive action has sparked calls for similar reform in neighboring Nigeria, where title inflation is particularly rampant. Critics argue that unless Nigeria enforces stricter guidelines on academic titles, the prestige of its educational system will continue to erode.
For many Nigerians, Ghana’s crackdown on fake honorary degrees and academic titles hits close to home. The practice of awarding or self-declaring titles like “Dr.” or “Professor” often without any formal academic achievement has become alarmingly common across Nigeria.
Despite public frustration, the Nigerian Ministry of Education has remained silent. In a country where even local events and church programs regularly feature speakers flaunting questionable credentials, critics say the time for action is long overdue.
Many Nigerians are now asking: If Ghana can protect the value of education, why can’t we?
With trust in institutions already fragile, unchecked title inflation risks further damaging the credibility of Nigeria’s academic system. For a nation known for its intellectual talent and universities with rich legacies, the continued tolerance of academic impostors sends the wrong message both at home and abroad.
For many in the region, the move represents more than just regulating labels it’s about restoring respect for genuine scholarship and protecting the dignity of academia.
Whether Ghana’s policy becomes a turning point for West Africa’s education landscape remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the era of unverified academic self-glorification may finally be coming under serious scrutiny.
