ACCRA, Ghana – The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has issued a stern directive to Hon. Phillis Naa Koryoo Okunor, the Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East, demanding that she immediately cease using the academic title “Doctor.” This action comes amid GTEC’s broader campaign to curb the misuse of unearned academic and honorary titles by public figures across the country.
In a formal letter dated June 16, 2025, GTEC explicitly stated its serious concern regarding Ms. Okunor’s continued use of the title, clarifying that she lacks the requisite qualifications or accredited doctoral degree to do so. The commission underscored that the use of such titles, particularly when they lack formal academic validation from accredited institutions, whether in Ghana or abroad, is misleading and contravenes established academic protocols governing the conferment and use of academic distinctions in Ghana.
GTEC, acting within its mandate to enforce standards and safeguard the credibility of academic distinctions in Ghana’s tertiary education sector, has ordered MP Okunor to remove the “Doctor” title from all relevant platforms. This includes, but is not limited to, official documents, institutional profiles, websites, letterheads, and any public or professional representations.
The letter, signed by Augustine Ocloo, Deputy Director-General for the Director-General, stressed the importance of compliance and requested verifiable evidence that the title has been removed from all platforms at her earliest convenience. GTEC has reiterated its commitment to upholding transparency and academic integrity within Ghana’s education system, following what it describes as an increasing trend of individuals adopting honorary doctorates as academic or professional titles without genuine academic achievement.
While the press release specifically addressed Ms. Okunor, GTEC has recently expanded its crackdown, warning other public figures and even another Member of Parliament, Desmond De-Graft Paitoo (Gomoa East), and Internal Audit Agency board member Kwame Adom-Frimpong (regarding the title “Professor”), to desist from using similar unearned titles. The commission has previously warned that it would “name and shame” individuals who disregard its directives and may pursue legal action against repeat offenders, citing provisions under the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023). As of now, MP Okunor has not issued a public response to GTEC’s directive.
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