LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA — March 19, 2026 — Lincoln University is proud to announce that His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, President of the Fourth Republic of Ghana and the African Union’s Champion for Advancing the Cause of Justice and the Payment of Reparations, will receive an honorary doctorate from the university on March 26, 2026. This is coming in recognition of his outstanding contributions to public service, democratic governance, peaceful international and inter-African relationships, and global advocacy for justice, equality, and education.
The honorary conferral event will highlight the shared mission of Lincoln University and President Mahama — to broaden access to education, champion social justice, and inspire servant leadership across national borders.
“Lincoln University is deeply honored to welcome President John Dramani Mahama to our campus and to bestow upon him an honorary degree in recognition of his distinguished leadership,” says university president Dr. Brenda A. Allen. “His visit is especially meaningful as we celebrate the enduring global legacy of our alumnus Kwame Nkrumah ‘39, whose vision for Ghana’s independence helped shape modern Africa. President Mahama’s presence at Lincoln affirms the powerful and historic connection between our institution and the Republic of Ghana, and it inspires our students to see themselves as part of a global community of changemakers.”
Prior to his visit to Lincoln University, President Mahama will address the United Nations General Assembly, where he will present a landmark resolution seeking global recognition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade as the gravest crime against humanity. The resolution, first introduced before the African Union (UN) and the United Nations (UN) in 2025, has been described by African leaders as a major step in the global campaign for reparatory justice.
Associate Professor Gnaka Lagoke, Chair of the Pan-Africana Studies Department states, “Lincoln University’s doctorate conferral to President Mahama is a powerful symbol. He carries the Kwame Nkrumah mandate. Lincoln University is Kwame Nkrumah’s alma mater. It is happening at a pivotal moment in President Mahama’s advocacy work on the international stage, and when the campaign for reparations of which he is the standard-bearer is at its culminant point. Once again, Lincoln University is making history.”
President Mahama considers the combination of history, communications, and social psychology—courses he studied for his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees—to have profoundly shaped his views, thoughts, and understanding of the human condition and contributed significantly to his development as a person.
Under President Mahama’s first administration, Ghana witnessed massive infrastructure development across all sectors of the economy, including education, health, ports and harbors, aviation, rail, oil and gas, ICT, and many more. His vision and strategic investments in these areas solidly positioned the country as a Lower-Middle-Income Country for its next development phase.
Beyond investments in socio-economic infrastructure, President Mahama is passionate about investing in people. This amply reflects his commitment to social justice and equity, particularly through his lauded efforts to advance the interests of girls and women across all spheres. Notably, Ghana attained gender parity in basic education under his leadership.
President Mahama further demonstrated his commitment to women’s empowerment by appointing several women to prominent roles in his administration. In 2020, he made a groundbreaking decision to nominate Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as his Vice-Presidential candidate, marking a first for a major political party in Ghana. He repeated this bold choice in 2024, and with their victory, Ghana welcomed its first female Vice President.
With his resounding victory in the December 2024 elections, John Dramani Mahama became the first president in Ghana’s history to be democratically elected to a non-consecutive second term.
Just one year after his reelection, President John Mahama Dramani is credited to have rescued the Ghanaian economy.
In recognition of his sterling contributions as a leader and role model on the African continent and around the globe, President Mahama has been conferred with several honorary doctoral degrees from distinguished universities worldwide, including Ekiti State University, Ilorin University, and Igbinedion University in Nigeria; the University of Aberdeen in Scotland; the Lyon Business School in France; and Yonsei University in South Korea.
Aligning with President Mahama’s visit, Lincoln University’s Black Freedom Conference will host a film screening and conversation with film directors of The Eyes of Ghana, on Wednesday, March 25th. Executive produced by Barack and Michelle Obama, the Breakwater Studios documentary follows 93-year-old Christian Tsui Hesse, the personal cinematographer for Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, during the 1950s-60s liberation movement.
The conferral event is not open to the public. To request press credentials for President Mahama’s visit on Thursday, March 26th, members of the media should contact Athena Griffith-Howard at agriffithhoward@lincoln.edu by Friday, March 20th.
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About Lincoln University
Lincoln University, the nation’s first degree-granting Historically Black College and University (HBCU), educates and empowers students to lead their communities and change the world. Lincoln offers a rigorous liberal arts education to a diverse student body of approximately 1,650 men and women in more than 34 undergraduate and graduate programs. To learn more about Lincoln University, visit www.lincoln.edu.
Media Contact
Athena Griffith-Howard
Associate Vice President, Marketing & Communications
E-mail: agriffithhoward@lincoln.edu
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