Lincoln University in Pennsylvania has cancelled a planned visit by President John Dramani Mahama just two days before he was to receive an honorary doctorate, citing concerns linked to Ghana’s Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill.
The university announced the decision in a brief statement on its website, stating that the visit scheduled for Thursday, March 26, 2026, had been called off due to “unforeseen circumstances.”
However, the Ghana Embassy in Washington, D.C. has indicated that the cancellation was triggered by concerns raised by a group over President Mahama’s perceived position on the anti-LGBTQ bill currently before Ghana’s Parliament.
“It is both surprising and regrettable that… concerns had been raised by a group regarding President Mahama’s perceived position on Ghana’s Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill,” the Embassy said in a strongly worded statement.
According to the Embassy, all logistical arrangements for the visit had already been finalised, including a full walkthrough of the venue conducted jointly by Embassy officials and university representatives just days earlier.
The development has raised questions about the university’s internal processes, particularly after Lincoln University reportedly acknowledged that the concerns did not arise during its earlier vetting and due diligence before extending the invitation.
President Mahama was expected to receive the honorary doctorate in recognition of his contributions to public service, democratic governance, and global advocacy for justice, equality, and reparations.
The Chair of Pan-Africana Studies at the university, Associate Professor Gnaka Lagoke, had earlier described the planned honour as symbolic, noting that Mahama “carries the Kwame Nkrumah mandate,” referencing Ghana’s founding president, who was an alumnus of Lincoln University.
President Mahama is currently in New York, where he is scheduled to address the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, March 25, presenting a resolution on behalf of the African Union seeking recognition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade as a crime against humanity.
Lincoln University has not issued any further detailed explanation beyond its initial cancellation notice.
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