By Dr. Chris Tokpah
Across Liberia, a troubling trend has taken root. Every few months, new photos surface of individuals being draped in academic gowns, proudly receiving “honorary doctorate degrees” from institutions that, by law, have no authority to confer them. What was once meant to be a solemn act of academic recognition has turned into a thriving trade in fake prestige.
What Is an Honorary Degree?
An honorary degree is a symbolic award granted by a legitimate university to recognize a person’s outstanding contribution to society, whether in public service, the arts, science, or humanitarian work. It is not earned through coursework or research but serves as a public expression of esteem from a university whose academic authority is recognized by law and by its accrediting body.
Recipients of honorary degrees are not expected to call themselves “Doctor.” That title is reserved for those who have completed rigorous doctoral study and research, such as the Ph.D., Ed.D., or professional doctorates like the M.D. or J.D. At most, the recipient may write the degree as “Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (Honoris Causa),” but ethically not as “Dr.” before their name.
When Recognition Becomes a Racket
Unfortunately, in Liberia, this distinction has been lost. Some so-called institutions, many of them licensed or accredited only to offer associate or bachelor’s degrees, have taken it upon themselves to award honorary doctorates. In some cases, these degrees are offered in exchange for financial or political favors, cheapening what should be an act of academic honor and turning it into a transaction of convenience.
It is now common to see public figures, pastors, businesspeople, and even political appointees boast of “Doctor” titles from institutions that have no standing to issue them. Some recipients may be unaware of the illegitimacy, but others knowingly accept or seek out these titles for vanity or influence. In both cases, the result is the same: the public’s trust in education is eroded, and genuine academic achievement is cheapened.
Who Has the Right to Award Degrees
In every country with a functioning higher-education system, degree-granting authority is strictly regulated. In Liberia, that authority rests with institutions licensed or accredited by the National Commission on Higher Education (NCHE) and approved by law to operate at specific degree levels, such as certificate, associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate.
If a college is licensed or accredited only to grant associate or bachelor’s degrees, it cannot legally or ethically award any kind of doctoral degree, whether honorary or earned. Doing so is an act of academic fraud. Likewise, any university without NCHE accreditation that awards degrees of any kind is operating illegally and should be shut down.
A Call to the NCHE
The NCHE must act decisively. It should publish a clear list of institutions legally authorized to confer degrees and should explicitly warn the public that honorary doctorates from unapproved institutions are invalid. It must also issue regulations outlining who may grant honorary degrees, under what conditions, and at what level of institutional authority.
Liberia’s academic community has worked too hard to build integrity to let it be undermined by a few unscrupulous operators. The NCHE should investigate every institution offering honorary doctorates and apply sanctions where necessary, including revocation of accreditation and legal prosecution for fraud.
Restoring Dignity to Education
Titles do not make leaders; service does. The true measure of honor is contribution, not the robe or certificate that can be bought for a fee. Let us restore dignity to our education system by respecting the boundaries of academic authority and exposing the sale of fake degrees for what it truly is: a fraud against the nation’s intellect.
About the Author
Dr. Chris Tokpah is the Associate Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness at Delaware County Community College in Pennsylvania. He holds a Ph.D. in Program Evaluation and Measurement, an MBA with an emphasis in Management Information Systems, and a B.Sc. in Mathematics. Dr. Tokpah also serves as an Adjunct Professor of Research Methods and Statistics in the Ph.D. program at Delaware Valley University. He is an independent consultant who supervised baseline studies and evaluations sponsored by the World Bank, IDA, Geneva Global, USAID, and the African Development Bank.
He is a co-owner of the Center for Research, Evaluation, and Policy (CENREP), a Liberian consulting firm that specializes in strategic planning, monitoring, evaluation, social science research, and training services. Dr. Tokpah frequently writes about policy issues in Liberia. His writings can be found at https://cenrepliberia.org/volunteer-work. His email address is ctokpah@cenrepliberia.org
