The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has formally requested Member of Parliament for Gomoa East, Desmond Paitoo, to provide clarification on his continued use of the academic title “Doctor” (Dr.), citing concerns over the legitimacy of the designation.
In an official letter addressed to Paitoo, GTEC outlined its concerns regarding the increasing trend of individuals adopting honorary doctorates as academic or professional titles, despite such degrees lacking the formal academic equivalence of earned doctoral qualifications.
The Commission urged the MP to specify the awarding institution, whether the degree was honorary or earned, and the process through which the title was conferred.
GTEC emphasised that the unauthorised use of honorary titles is considered unethical and violates provisions of the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023) governing higher education in Ghana. It has formally requested that Paitoo refrain from using the “Doctor” title in all official and public communications.
The Commission warned that non-compliance may trigger regulatory actions, including possible sanctions as prescribed by law. The directive has been issued amid growing scrutiny over title usage in Ghana’s public sphere.
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