On March 13, 2026, Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, conferred an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy in Public Administration on President John Dramani Mahama. The prestigious award, presented by university President Yoon Dong-sup and Graduate School Dean Kim Hyun-chul, honours President Mahama’s remarkable contributions to national transformation, economic development, and global academic engagement.
The university highlighted his visionary leadership in advancing democratic governance, driving infrastructure development, and fostering international cooperation — efforts that have firmly established Ghana as a stable democracy and a valued partner on the world stage.
Accepting the honour with humility, President Mahama dedicated it to the Ghanaian people, framing it as a testament to the bond between the two nations:
“This honour you have bestowed upon me today is one that I accept on behalf of all the people of Ghana as a symbol of the deep respect, mutual relations, and admiration that exist between our two countries.”
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He also drew on personal history, recalling his formative years at the University of Ghana’s Commonwealth Hall, whose motto — “Truth Stands” — he credited with shaping his philosophy of leadership and public service. In a warm gesture to his hosts, he closed his remarks by rallying Yonsei’s student body with the spirited Korean expression of encouragement, “Hwaiting.”
The degree ceremony formed part of a wider five-day working visit to South Korea. A day earlier, on March 12, President Mahama commissioned a state-of-the-art Liquefied Petroleum Gas vessel — a milestone that further deepens the two countries’ growing partnership in energy and industrial development.