Mahama receives honorary doctorate during return to his former university in Moscow

President John Dramani Mahama has received an honorary doctorate from Russia’s Peoples’ Friendship University, nearly four decades after studying in the country as a postgraduate student. The recognition was presented at a ceremony on October 27, 2026, at the university’s Moscow campus. According to the report, university officials cited Ghana’s efforts to widen access to higher education and to strengthen academic and scientific ties with Russia. They pointed to measures including the No-Fee-Stress policy, which supports first-year students at public tertiary institutions, and free tertiary education for people with disabilities. The policy provided academic fee assistance to more than 152,000 students in 2025, the article says. Mahama described returning to the campus after almost 40 years as a nostalgic experience. He thanked the university for the honour and said the confidence of Ghanaians had given meaning to his decades in public service. He also acknowledged that an award of this kind is not achieved through one person’s efforts alone. The university also announced a Patrice Lumumba scholarship intended to support seven students each year, as Ghana and Russia look to develop educational cooperation. Mahama’s visit coincided with Ghana’s participation in the Third Russia-Africa Summit, where leaders are discussing cooperation in several areas. The honorary doctorate recognises Mahama’s public service and the education initiatives highlighted by the university. The report presents the award as both a personal return to a place connected to his student years and a moment in the wider relationship between Ghana and Russia.