President Mahama responds to Lincoln University snub

President John Dramani Mahama has responded to the decision by Lincoln University to cancel a planned honorary PhD award, stating that the institution continues to hold a special place in Ghana’s history despite the disagreement.

The university is reported to have withdrawn the honour over concerns relating to Ghana’s proposed Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, widely referred to as the anti-gay bill.

Speaking during an engagement with the Ghanaian community in Philadelphia in the United States, President Mahama struck a conciliatory tone, emphasising the longstanding historical ties between Ghana and the American institution.

“I want to say that there is a historic link between Ghana and Pennsylvania. There is a historic link between Ghana and Lincoln University,” he stated.

The President acknowledged the controversy surrounding the decision but maintained that it had not diminished his regard for the university.

“Whatever disagreements have come up, for me, Lincoln University holds a special place in my heart. Because those are hallowed grounds for Ghana. It is part of our history,” he said.

He underscored the institution’s role in shaping Ghana’s founding leader, Kwame Nkrumah, describing it as central to the country’s intellectual and political heritage.

“We cannot divorce Lincoln University from the history of Ghana. That is where our first President, Osagyefuo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, was nurtured with his intellectual capacity and his Pan-Africanist spirit,” he noted.

President Mahama added that the influence of Lincoln University extended beyond Ghana, contributing to wider African liberation movements.

“And so, the grounds of Lincoln are hallowed grounds for Ghanaians, and we will continue to hold that institution in high esteem,” President Mahama said.

The development highlights growing international scrutiny of Ghana’s proposed legislation, even as government officials continue to defend national values and legislative processes.