The Assemblies of God Church in Ghana has issued a sweeping directive prohibiting its clergy from using honorary doctorate titles in official and public settings, warning that failure to comply will result in suspension from ministerial duties.
The policy, outlined in a July 11 circular and ratified by the church’s Executive Presbytery during its May 2024 session, aims to align the church’s internal practices with national education regulations, particularly those enforced by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC).
Under the new directive, pastors who have been awarded honorary doctorates — regardless of whether the issuing institution is accredited — are barred from styling themselves as “Dr.”. Clergy who possess formal academic degrees, including bachelor's, master's, or PhDs, are now required to submit their credentials for verification by GTEC before they can be publicly acknowledged by the church.
Failure to comply, the church warned, will trigger disciplinary proceedings, including potential suspension from pastoral office.
The church cited the example of its own General Superintendent, Rev. Stephen Wengam, who voluntarily dropped the “Dr.” title last year despite having received an honorary doctorate. Church leaders are urging other ministers to follow suit in an effort to preserve integrity and transparency in religious leadership.
The crackdown by the Assemblies of God comes amid growing scrutiny by GTEC over the misuse of academic titles in both religious and public sectors. In a separate high-profile case, the Commission recently challenged the use of the title “Professor” by Deputy Health Minister and Member of Parliament for Essikado-Ketan, Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah.
In a letter addressed to the Chief of Staff, GTEC demanded documentary evidence of Ayensu-Danquah’s professorial credentials by August 11. Her legal team, led by attorney David K. Ametefe, responded on August 8, asserting that she had been legitimately appointed as an Assistant Professor of Surgery by the University of Utah in the United States. They argued that GTEC lacks jurisdiction to evaluate foreign academic appointments and called the inquiry unfounded.
The lawyers further warned that if the Commission fails to retract its letter within 14 days, they would pursue legal remedies including certiorari, mandamus, and declaratory relief to protect their client’s professional reputation.
The Assemblies of God’s directive signals a broader institutional effort to enforce academic accountability in an environment where honorary degrees are frequently used to confer status, often without regulatory oversight. The church's move is expected to ripple through other faith-based organizations and could influence broader compliance with GTEC’s enforcement regime.
