This initiative has implicated not only those in academia but also some senior figures in government.
Vice Chancellors from Ghana’s technical universities have raised concerns about the increasing cases of fraudulent academic titles, warning that the practice is undermining the credibility of the country’s education system.
Providing updates from Accra, correspondent Eric Mawena Egbeta said that many of the individuals being exposed claimed to have earned their qualifications from institutions outside Ghana. “These are often universities that either do not exist or are not officially accredited anywhere,” he explained. “Because of this, there is no formal list of banned institutions, but the trend is worrying.”
According to GTEC, their action is widely supported by education leaders, lecturers, and policy experts who are pushing for an end to the misuse of academic titles. Egbeta pointed out that in Ghana, there is a cultural appetite for titles such as “Doctor,” which are sometimes used to boost social status or gain professional advantages.
Among the high-profile individuals exposed is the former Board Chairman of the Ghana Audit Service, Edward Dua Agyeman, who is accused of falsely claiming a professorship. GTEC investigations reportedly found no academic record to back up his title. In Parliament, a sitting member of parliament known as ‘Doctor’ has also been flagged for holding an unverified doctorate qualification.
The list extends to political party leadership, with Dr Rashid Tanko Computer, a senior member of the ruling party, also named for holding a fake doctorate. One academic from Heritage Christian University was similarly found to have used an unearned professorship.
On reactions from those accused, Egbeta said some individuals have chosen to remain silent, while others are defending themselves. “One Professor maintains that his academic title is legitimate and says he has documents to prove it. Meanwhile, Tanko Computer has reportedly asked to be addressed by his name only, dropping the ‘Doctor’ title to avoid further scrutiny,” Egbeta said.
The campaign is seen as a major step towards restoring public trust in Ghana’s education system.
--ChannelAfrica--
