Ghana’s Presidential Envoy for Reparations, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, has been directed by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to provide evidence supporting his use of the academic title “Dr.” or immediately discontinue using it if he cannot prove it was legitimately conferred.
In a statement issued on Monday, July 27, 2026, GTEC said it had observed the use of the title in public references identifying him as “Amb. Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah.”
According to the Commission, the use of academic titles that have not been earned through recognised academic processes is misleading and undermines the integrity of Ghana’s higher education system.
GTEC stressed that academic titles must be supported by formal academic qualifications and used in line with established standards governing the award and recognition of degrees in Ghana.
To verify the legitimacy of the title, the Commission has requested that Spio-Garbrah submit documentation indicating the institution that awarded the doctorate, whether it is an earned doctoral degree or an honorary doctorate, the date it was conferred, and the process through which it was awarded.
The Commission further stated that if he is unable to provide the requested evidence, he must immediately stop using the title “Dr.” and confirm that it has been removed from all official and public platforms, including institutional profiles, websites, letterheads, official documents, and other professional representations.
GTEC gave Spio-Garbrah until July 31, 2026, to comply with the directive and expressed confidence that he would cooperate in resolving the matter.
