The Assemblies of God Church in Ghana has issued a directive prohibiting its ministers from using honorary doctorate titles in official and public settings.
Clergy who disregard the instruction risk suspension.
The policy, contained in a circular dated July 11, 2025, follows a resolution passed by the church’s Executive Presbytery at its May 2024 session.
Church leaders explained that the decision aligns with regulations of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) on the recognition and use of academic credentials.
Under the directive, pastors who have received honorary doctorates—whether from accredited or unaccredited institutions—are not permitted to prefix their names with “Dr.”
Ministers with academic degrees (Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD) must submit their certificates to GTEC for authentication before they can be formally recognized.
Any minister who fails to comply with this directive or GTEC’s requirements faces disciplinary action, including suspension.
To reinforce the directive, the church cited the example of its General Superintendent, Rev. Stephen Wengam, who announced last year that although he had received an honorary doctorate, he had chosen to stop using the title. Leaders urged other pastors to follow his example to uphold transparency and integrity in ministry.
The announcement comes at a time when GTEC is intensifying its campaign against the misuse of academic titles.
A recent case involves Deputy Health Minister and Essikado-Ketan MP, Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah, who was asked by the Commission to provide evidence of her professorial appointment by August 11, 2025.
Her legal team, led by David K. Ametefe, responded on August 8, insisting that she was duly appointed as Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Utah, USA. They further argued that GTEC has no authority over foreign appointments and described the Commission’s action as unjustified.
