Telecel Ghana CEO urges graduates to combine competence with ethics, courage and responsibility
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Telecel Ghana Chief Executive Officer Ing. Patricia Obo-Nai has called for a stronger culture of integrity, ethical leadership and social responsibility, saying technical competence alone is not enough to build lasting trust and value.
Obo-Nai made the remarks while speaking at the 2026 Commencement Ceremony of Palm University College at Manya Jorpanya, Shai Hills. Palm University confirms the ceremony took place on September 12, 2026, with Obo-Nai serving as the guest speaker.
“Technical Expertise May Open the Door”
Addressing graduates under the theme “The Quest to Educate Ethical and Excellent Leaders in Ghana,” Obo-Nai emphasised the responsibility of educational institutions to develop graduates who can make ethical decisions and understand the impact of their actions.
“Technical expertise may open the door, but integrity is what sustains trust, builds brands and creates lasting value,” she said.
She argued that investors want people who can be trusted with their resources, while employers increasingly require not only technical ability but also sound judgement, discipline and character.
Obo-Nai further said ethics should be intentionally incorporated into education, reinforced through leadership examples and reflected in everyday decision-making.
Palm University Emphasises Ethical Leadership
Palm University College Founder and President Dr. Peter Carlos Okantey said the institution was established around the belief that Ghana’s development challenges extend beyond skills shortages to include ethical leadership.
He urged graduates to apply the integrity, leadership and excellence developed during their academic journey as they enter professional and public life.
Palm University College says its mission is to produce ethical and excellent leaders with integrity for corporate, national and continental creativity, innovation, service and sustainability.
The university also highlighted initiatives including its Centre for Ethical Leadership, Palm Corporate Mentoring Programme and Palm GreenLab Innovation and Incubation Lab as mechanisms for connecting classroom learning with real-world impact.
Telecel Introduces Ethical Leadership Award
During the ceremony, Obo-Nai announced the Telecel Award for Excellence and Ethical Leadership.
Sponsored by Telecel Ghana, the annual award will recognise a graduating student who combines strong academic performance with sound judgement, integrity, responsibility and service.
Telecel Ghana separately confirmed that Obo-Nai announced an annual award for the best student in ethical leadership as part of the company’s support for developing the next generation of leaders.
Valedictorian Calls for Accountability
One of the ceremony’s two valedictorians, Dr Alex Osei, who graduated with an MSc in Services Management and Leadership, also reflected on the importance of ethical decision-making.
He described ethical leadership as making the right choice even when there is no external pressure to do so, while emphasising transparency, equity and accountability.
The ceremony brought together university leadership, faculty, students, parents, traditional leaders, industry partners and other members of the Palm University community.
The event marked the graduation of Palm University College’s Class of 2026, including the institution’s first graduating cohort from its School of Graduate Studies.
Leadership Beyond the Classroom
The message from the ceremony centred on the idea that professional success should be accompanied by character and responsibility.
For Obo-Nai, the challenge is not simply to produce graduates who can perform their jobs, but leaders whose decisions can strengthen organisations and contribute positively to society.
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