An 81-year-old Ghanaian, Mr. Joseph Aheto, has proved that age is no barrier to education after graduating with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Entrepreneurship and Small Enterprise Development from the University of Cape Coast (UCC).
Mr. Aheto was among the graduands at the 9th session of UCC’s 58th congregation ceremony held in December 2025. The occasion was made even more remarkable by the fact that the ceremony was presided over by his son, Professor Denis Aheto, who currently serves as the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the university.
Speaking after the graduation, Mr. Aheto described the moment as deeply fulfilling and emotional.
“I feel very much excited to have my own son graduating me today,” he said.
Mr. Aheto is no stranger to higher education. He previously earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Ghana in 1978. Several decades later, he made the decision to return to school, drawing inspiration from his two sons, both of whom are professors.
Rather than feeling intimidated by their academic achievements, Mr. Aheto said he felt encouraged to further his own education.
“I realised my children were academically ahead of me, and I decided to go back to school,” he explained.
He revealed that he enrolled in the MBA programme in 2022, before his son was appointed Acting Vice-Chancellor, addressing any potential concerns about preferential treatment.
During his studies, Mr. Aheto said he occasionally faced skepticism and mockery from younger classmates because of his age. However, he remained determined and focused on his goal.
“That didn’t discourage me. I soldiered on and now I have graduated,” he said.
Mr. Aheto’s achievement has been widely praised as an inspiring example of lifelong learning, underscoring the message that education remains accessible and meaningful at any stage of life.
