Lincoln University in Pennsylvania has abruptly cancelled a planned visit by former President John Dramani Mahama, just days before he was scheduled to receive an honorary doctorate, citing concerns linked to Ghana’s controversial Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill.
In a brief notice posted on its website, the university announced that Mahama’s visit, originally slated for Thursday, March 26, had been called off due to “unforeseen circumstances.” The statement, however, offered no detailed explanation for the sudden decision.
Ghana’s Embassy in Washington, D.C., later confirmed that the cancellation followed concerns raised by a group regarding Mahama’s perceived stance on the anti-LGBTQ bill currently before Ghana’s Parliament. In a strongly worded response, the Embassy expressed surprise at the development, noting that preparations for the visit had already been completed.
According to the Embassy, university officials had previously conducted full logistical planning, including a walkthrough of the event venue just a week earlier. The late reversal, it said, was therefore both unexpected and disappointing.
The situation has also drawn scrutiny because Lincoln University reportedly acknowledged that the concerns prompting the cancellation were not identified during its earlier vetting and due diligence process prior to extending the invitation.
Mahama had been selected for the honorary doctorate in recognition of what the university described as his contributions to public service, democratic governance, and advocacy on issues of justice, equality, and reparations. The award was also symbolically significant due to the historical ties between Ghana and Lincoln University, the alma mater of Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah.
Earlier, the Chair of the university’s Pan-African Studies Department had described the planned conferment as a powerful moment, suggesting it reflected a continuation of Nkrumah’s legacy and the longstanding relationship between the institution and Ghana.
Mahama is currently in New York, where he is expected to address the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, March 25. During the session, he will present a major African Union–backed resolution calling for global recognition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade as a crime against humanity.
As of now, Lincoln University has not issued any further public clarification beyond its initial cancellation notice, leaving questions about the decision-making process and its timing unanswered.
