GUTA slams GTEC for querying president over honorary title
The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) has condemned the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) for cautioning its President, Dr. Joseph Obeng, against using his honorary doctorate title.
This comes after GTEC, in a letter dated Wednesday, May 14, A2025, raised concerns over Dr. Obeng’s continued use of the title “Doctor” in public despite the Commission’s stance on banning the public from misusing the title.
In Dr. Obeng’s case, the Commission is seeking information regarding the awarding institution, the conferral process, and the date of the honorary degree.
GTEC also argued that the use of honorary doctorates as formal titles is unethical and contravenes the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023), along with other relevant education regulations.
Failure to comply with the directive according to the Commission could result in sanctions under its mandate.
However, GUTA, in a statement issued on Monday, 19, 2025, described GTEC’s action as a “malicious attempt” to tarnish Dr. Obeng’s reputation, asserting that the honorary title was a legitimate acknowledgement of his contributions to Ghana’s economic development and private sector advocacy.
GUTA defended the title, stating that Dr. Obeng’s honorary doctorate, awarded by Alpha International Theological Seminary in 2016, was a genuine recognition of his leadership and public service.
The Association also indicated that their president’s Platinum Award for Excellence in Leadership, presented by the Centre for Transformational Leadership that same year, was further validation of his accomplishments.
GUTA, therefore, called on GTEC to withdraw the cautionary letter and issue a public apology, stressing that members of the informal sector also deserve national respect and recognition.
“We affirm that Dr. Obeng’s leadership and advocacy transcend academic credentials. His contributions are felt in markets, boardrooms, and national policy discussions,” the statement from GUTA added.
In a nutshell, the Association urged GTEC to act with greater discretion when dealing with respected public figures and to consult relevant stakeholders before issuing statements that could damage reputations.