President John Dramani Mahama is set to receive an honorary doctorate from Lincoln University on March 26, 2026, in recognition of his global leadership and sustained advocacy for reparative justice.
The honour comes as Mahama intensifies his international campaign for the formal recognition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade as a crime against humanity. The Ghanaian leader is expected to present a draft resolution to the United Nations General Assembly seeking global acknowledgment of the historical injustice.
Lincoln University has indicated the award aligns with its longstanding commitment to education, leadership, and social justice. The institution’s president, Brenda A. Allen, described the conferment as both timely and symbolic, particularly as the university celebrates the legacy of Kwame Nkrumah, one of its most distinguished alumni.
“Lincoln University is deeply honoured to welcome President Mahama and to recognise his distinguished leadership,” Allen said, adding that his visit reaffirms the historic ties between the university and Ghana while inspiring a new generation of global changemakers.
Mahama’s recognition also follows his recent conferment of an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy in Public Administration by Yonsei University, awarded for his contributions to national transformation and economic development.
The proposed UN resolution—titled “Declaration of the Trafficking in Enslaved Africans and Racialised Chattel Enslavement of Africans as the Gravest Crime Against Humanity”—has been championed by Ghana and has received unanimous backing from member states of the African Union.
Diplomatic efforts to build consensus around the resolution have advanced through several stages, including endorsement by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, engagements with CARICOM, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Group of 77 and China, and the European Union. Formal consultations were held on February 23 and March 12, with a high-level side event scheduled for March 24 at the African Burial Ground National Monument in New York.
Ghana, alongside its co-sponsors and the African Union, is expected to formally table the resolution before the General Assembly on March 25.
Chair of Lincoln University’s Pan-Africana Studies Department, described the conferment as a continuation of Nkrumah’s legacy.
“President Mahama carries forward the Kwame Nkrumah mandate. This moment reflects both historical continuity and a decisive phase in the global reparations movement,” he said.
Beyond his international advocacy, Mahama has also been recognised for his domestic policies, including efforts to promote gender inclusion.
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