GTEC Directs Presidential Envoy Ekwow Spio-Garbrah to Verify Doctorate or Cease Using "Dr" Title

The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has issued a formal directive to Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, the Presidential Envoy for Reparations, requiring him to provide proof of his academic title "Dr" or immediately stop using it. This move is part of a rigorous effort by the commission to sanitize the use of academic titles in Ghana's public and professional spaces. The instruction follows observations by GTEC that Spio-Garbrah has been referring to himself as "Amb Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah" in official communications without publicly verifiable evidence of a doctoral degree.

In a statement released by GTEC's Deputy Director-General, Augustine Ocloo, the commission requested comprehensive documentation regarding the awarding of the doctorate. This includes the name of the awarding institution, the specific nature of the qualification—whether it is an earned academic degree or an honorary one—and the exact date the degree was conferred. Spio-Garbrah has been given a strict deadline of July 31, 2026, to submit the requested evidence. Failure to comply with this directive will require him to remove the title from all official, professional, and public representations.

This scrutiny of high-profile officials aligns with GTEC's broader mandate to eliminate the proliferation of unearned or illegitimate academic titles, which the commission argues can mislead the public and undermine the integrity of Ghana's educational standards. By targeting prominent figures such as the Presidential Envoy, GTEC signals a "no-exceptions" policy in its campaign for academic accountability. The outcome of this verification process is expected to set a significant precedent for other public officers and individuals currently using academic titles in the country, emphasizing that titles must be backed by legitimate institutional certification.