‘Why do you dress me in borrowed robes’

Maclean Kwofi’s July 15, 2024 article in Graphic Online titled “3 Million condoms missing – Auditor-General after delivery man,” threw me into a fit of uncontrollable laughter. When I recovered, I continued with the article which read as follows:

“The Auditor-General is pursuing a driver who failed to deliver about three million pieces of male condoms and other contraceptives valued at GH¢1.34 million to the Regional Medical Stores (RMS) in the Eastern Region.
The driver, Joe Gyaten, was tasked to deliver the contraceptives, including 120,000 vials of Depo-Provera (birth control shot), to the Regional Medical Stores on August 22, 2022, but the entire consignment was never received at the stipulated destination.
Mr Gyaten has also not been able to account for the items until today, prompting the Auditor-General’s inquest and efforts to recover the funds in accordance with Section 96 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921).”
Section 96 of the Act stipulates that a person, connected with the procurement or control of government stores, who is responsible for any deficiency in or for the loss, damage or destruction of any stores or any other government property, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a term of imprisonment or a fine.”
Serious as the story was, the title, supported by a contingent of bright multi-coloured condoms added a humorous dimension which had me in stitches.

On the contrary, another story three days later did not amuse me one bit. In an article on Graphic Online on July 18, 2024 titled Regulate use of honorary doctorate titles — Deputy Education Minister tells GTEC, Graphic Online reported that the Deputy-Minister of Education, Professor Kingsley Nyarko, had called on Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to enhance efforts in regulating the use of doctoral titles in Ghana.

Prof. Nyarko expressed concern that the unregulated conferment and use of honorary doctoral degrees could undermine the true sense of academic achievement. He stated as follows:
“While the attainment of an honorary doctorate degree is an honour and an achievement, it should not be prefixed to one’s name. If the practice is unchecked, it could diminish the pursuit of formal graduate studies.
If obtaining a doctorate title is as easy as buying one, there will be little incentive to pursue rigorous academic study.”
Prof. Nyarko’s submission took me down memory lane.

Borrowed robes?

On a visit to a friend many years ago, I saw a beautifully framed citation on his table. With curiosity taking the better part of me, I went to the table.

A foreign university had awarded him a doctoral degree. To my exclamation as to why he had not made this news public, he smiled wryly at me and asked in the words of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, “Why do you want to dress me in borrowed robes? Everybody knows I have not been to the university! Why do I ridicule myself by suddenly writing “Dr” in front of my name?”

I found my friend’s humble answer rather interesting considering the number of Ghanaians who flaunt doctoral titles they have not earned through study and examination.
Interestingly, some get offended when the “Dr” is left out when they are introduced!

Doctorate (PhD) degree vs Honorary doctorate

Doctorate degrees (PhD) and Honorary doctorates have distinct purposes and different meanings. Doctorate degrees are academic and embody scholarly achievements, specialisation and advancement of knowledge in a particular field.

Honorary degrees which are referred to as Honoris Causa, celebrate exceptional accomplishments and contributions to society. Honoris Causa in Latin which translates in English as “for the sake of honour” is a degree awarded without examination, but as a mark of esteem/honour.

Honorary degrees are not PhDs, nor do they entitle the recipient to the same professional privileges as individuals who have earned PhDs after a course of study and examination.

Discussion

The case of the missing three million condoms captured in the latest Auditor-General’s Report on the public accounts of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), which uncovered more than GH¢2.41 billion financial irregularities in 2023 is a sad one.

That such a loss should be attributed to a driver, and not to any senior person in the ministry, is incomprehensible. Someone asked, what deep hole did the condoms disappear into such that they have not been found two years later, with the driver walking about? Where is accountability?

The conferment of Honoris Causa doctorate on individuals is a recognition of their contributions to society, and is “for the sake of honour.” It is not a PhD. Recipients of honorary doctorates must therefore desist from insisting on being addressed as “Dr,” of using it as a prefix in front of their names.

The number of prefixes in front of one’s name, or suffixes behind the name, may not be the most important determinant of one’s worth or contribution to society. Sadly, recent reports have it of unaccredited universities awarding honorary degrees!

Dr Samuel Johnson, who is credited with publishing the first English Dictionary in 1755, stated that, “The supreme end of education is expert discernment in all things; the power to tell the good from the bad, and the genuine from the counterfeit, but above all, to prefer the good and the genuine, to the bad and the counterfeit.” This is recommended to all who have studied to earn PhDs.

In Bob Marley’s words, “The greatness of a man is not how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity, and his ability to affect those around him positively!”

As my friend asked me quoting from Shakespeare, “Why do you dress me in borrowed robes?” So, why do people want to dress themselves in borrowed robes?

Leadership, lead by example! Fellow Ghanaians, wake up!

The writer is former CEO of African Peace Support Trainers Association, Nairobi, Kenya/Council Chair, Family Health University College, Accra.
E-mail: dkfrimpong@yahoo.com