The University of Cape Coast (UCC) justified its decision to confer a historic honorary doctorate on the King of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, outlining his nine indisputable and enviable titles.
These titles, he earned through hard work, dedication and commitment to championing relevant and life-saving initiatives in the course of his 25-year reign on the Golden Stool as the 16th Monarch of Asanteman.
It marked the third honorary degree awarded by the reigning topmost university on the African continent to a traditional authority and the first to anyone outside the Central Region.
The award was presented on Thursday, September 5, 2024, in recognition of Otumfuo’s meritorious and distinguished service which transcends the borders of Asanteman to Ghana and beyond.
Trumpeting some of the achievements of His Majesty, Prof. Rosemond Boohene, the Pro-Vice Chancellor outlined the nine titles.
“Purveyor of traditional jurisprudence, Advocate of the rule of law, Promoter of peace and stability, visionary and generational thinker, Entrepreneur, Guardian of culture and heritage, Statesman, Distinguished traditional leader and Role model, please, step forward to receive your Degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD), Honoris Causa.”
The event was hosted at the New Examination Centre (NEC Hall) of the university in Central Region.
Present at the event were eminent Asante traditional authorities, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, the Paramount Chief of the Oguaa Traditional Area, Nana Ekua Abookye VI, the Queen, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, the Education Minister and Hon Francis Asenso Boakye, the Minister for Roads and Highways.
Also were Sir Sam Jonah, the Chancellor of the UCC, Prof Johnson Nyarko Boampong, the Vice Chancellor of UCC, Prof Rita Akosua Dickson, the Vice Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), the Indian High Commissioner to Ghana, H.E. Manish Gupta and others.
UCC isn’t the first institution to award the Asantehene an honorary.
His Majesty before this, had to his credit nine from universities across the globe including the Essex County College Newark in the U.S.A, the University of Maryland in U.S.A., the Savannah State University in the U.S.A. and the University of Glasgow in Scotland.
He has also received from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, the University of Ghana Legon, the Igbinedeon University in Nigeria, the Metropolitan University in the UK and the University of East London, also in the UK.
Source: Manhyia Palace
