“Why do they issue these degrees in the first place?” Matsanga asked. “If someone is recognised for fighting apartheid or advancing innovation, honour them, but with clear rules.”

His comments come in response to a directive from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), which now prohibits citizens from publicly using honorary doctorates and unearned professional titles. The decision, aimed at curbing title inflation and protecting academic integrity, has sparked a continent-wide conversation about credibility and prestige in public life.

Matsanga warned that targeting individuals without addressing the institutional loopholes behind these honours was both short-sighted and ineffective. “This is like cutting off a leg to remove a thorn,” he said. “Instead of banning usage, governments should reform the systems that allow unregulated titles in the first place.”

He called on ministries of education across Africa to develop clear guidelines and enforceable standards for awarding honorary degrees, ensuring that such recognitions are based on genuine merit and national contribution.

“Honorary degrees are not the problem, lack of regulation is,”  Matsanga highlighted. “It’s time African institutions stop thinking backwards. Let’s fix the source, not silence the symptoms.”

GTEC’s ban comes amid growing public concern over how some political, religious and business leaders have used unearned academic titles to boost their image and influence, often misleading the public and undermining the value of genuine academic achievement.

--ChannelAfrica--