The Lincoln snub and bigger matters arising - Occasional Kwatriot Kwes Yankah writes
1998. Imagine my pride getting the opportunity to spend a sabbatical year teaching at University of Pennsylvania!
UPenn, an Ivy League school was one of Kwame Nkrumah’s twin homes away from home.
While Lincoln awarded Osagyefo his undergraduate degree in Theology, UPenn lifted him further in 1941 with two master’s degrees (in philosophy, education).
In the 1950s, Lincoln and Penn swirling with joy, granted higher honors to their accomplished alum.
While Lincoln bestowed an honorary doctorate on Nkrumah, UPenn 1958 added on a special citation after Ghana’s Independence. In Nkrumah and other African alumni (Azikiwe, Cabral, etc) Lincoln University saw the utmost realization of her core values: Learn, Liberate, Lead.
As Lincoln urged on Ghana to learn and lead, little did one foresee an anti-climax one day that would subject Ghana’s presidency to global disdain and ridicule.
The twin institutions, Lincoln-UPenn had earlier on, raised my anxieties as I boarded Ghana Airways September 1998 virtually ‘Coming to America.’
UPenn and its environs on my arrival, extended all courtesies needed to unwind a dazed African in a new environment.
The hospitality contingent included Ayaga Bawa, Ohene Frimpong, Abu Abarry, J K Amoako (Delaware), and Kwame Botwe Asamoah. In a matter of weeks, the African Studies Center walked me through Kwame Nkrumah’s life at UPenn aided by archival material, testimonials, reminiscences and all, including a picture of the 1958 investiture.
I considered my mission incomplete, however, without a visit to Lincoln University, Pennsylvania which was only 90 minutes away.
Mid 1999 close to midday, Kwame Botwe Asamoah picked me up and drove me to the famous Lincoln campus that knew the footprints of Kwame Nkrumah.
Asamoah, whom I previously knew at Legon, was then writing his doctoral thesis at Temple University on ‘Kwame Nkrumah’s Political ideology’ under the supervision of the renowned African-American scholar, Molefi Kete Asante.
Pacing back and forth the Lincoln campus I beat my chest with pride seeing the twin busts of the two celebrated nationalists, Nkrumah and Azikiwe, of whom Lincoln was especially proud. Fond memories of my trip also include my celebration of Ghana’s Independence anniversary with kids of Powell Elementary School near the UPenn campus.
The 6th March event was especially mounted in honor of Powell’s new-found Ghanaian kid, Elorm, my nine-year old daughter.
In my elements, I taught the kids Ghanaian songs as we all clapped in rhythm celebrating Ghana. I then told them the story of Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana and Nkrumah’s links with Lincoln, UPenn, Philadelphia.
Interestingly, American kids learned to their amazement that Ghana also had airports, airplanes and nice houses as evident in the slides I showed that day.
My entire sabbatical experience was indeed phenomenal.
In the past one week, almost 30 years after this historic sabbatical, my fond memories of Lincoln have been rattled by scandalous news since 25th March.
Like most Ghanaians, I am worried by mixed signals from our Lincoln friends, that now decide to put Ghana under negative spotlight after more than 70 years of cooperation.
Indeed, Lincoln’s current student population consists of 12% international students that include Nigerians, Kenyans and Ghanaians. But will the anchor hold?
What does it mean for Lincoln University to cancel at the 11th hour a ceremony scheduled to confer an honorary doctorate on Ghana’s current President, John Dramani Mahama? Was it a snub, indictment, insult? Could this humiliation have been visited on any President from a western country?
Better known are honorary awards conferred and later withdrawn after the recipient has been involved in an issue or incident considered to have tarnished his or her image, or the good name of the awarding institution.
This was the case with President Robert Mugabe, who was stripped of honorary doctoral degrees by Edinburgh and Massachusetts for his vintage anti-western stance in 2008.
Remember also one tragic incident in the history of Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences: the withdrawal of Nkrumah’s membership of the prestigious Academy on his overthrow in 1966—an Academy he had himself established in 1959.
The reason being his imprisonment of a fellow of the Academy, JB Danquah, without trial. The closest example this time of an 11th hour awards reversal was in 2005 when an honorary doctoral investiture meant for Jerry Rawlings, President J A Kufuor and five others, was cancelled by the Council Chairman of University of Development Studies, flimsily citing security reasons!
Back to Lincoln. Why a last-minute cancellation by Lincoln of an honorary doctorate meant for President John Mahama? Lincoln has been tight lipped on this, except for a terse, ‘due to unforeseen circumstances.’
Reacting to the diplomatic bombshell, Ghana’s Embassy in Washington, cites one possible cause: the perceived position of JDM about the anti-LGBTQ bill currently before Parliament.
Is JDM opposed to gay rights in Ghana, and suffering consequences from the West?
From this possible cause, Ghana was prepared to roll the red carpet on JM’s return for astutely protecting Ghana’s cultural values! He was a cultural martyr, who may have endured global humiliation in defense of Ghana’s cultural and religious values! This could be the pain for which heroes emerge--- a swan song for Ghana’s 69th anniversary! Ghana’s religious leaders applauded and rose to the occasion, sending congratulations to Jubilee House for reinforcing the people’s wishes. Social media was awash with videos that recall bold statements by JDM speaking to mammoth clergymen ahead of 2024 elections, where he proudly bashed gay rights citing religion and culture.
Hear JDM 2024 as he carried the cross for the sake of a sovereign Ghana!
“I am a proud member of Assemblies of God Church, and my faith does not permit same sex marriages or relationships (prolonged applause by congregation), nor does it permit people to change their gender as they wish.
I therefore assure you that the promotion of LGBTQ plus plus plus plus will have no place in schools and communities under my administration” (spontaneous standing ovation).
March 2026; From news trickling from Lincoln and Ghana’s Embassy, ‘Dying for Ghana’ could as well be the emerging Epic, as the President smarted under the cross, whips cracking from behind, and Good Friday beckoning!
A FEW MOMENTS LATER…
Tuesday 31st March. A shocking new tune from Jubilee House. The drum beat suddenly changes.
In the words of same JDM:
“Regardng the LGBTQ it remains a highly emotive and sensitive issue even in the most advanced liberal democracies. I explained this in my recent engagement with the world Affairs council, it is not the most important issue we face as a nation. We are still grappling with basic issues of education, health care, jobs food clothing and shelter….”
Apparently, the Lincoln intimidation has worked: the doctoral award is gone, and other things could follow…
The quick policy turn around by Jubilee was expected to trigger spontaneous street protests led by the clergy, civil society and the moral majority. All is quiet upon the land mainly because reverential silence is probably an imperative while eating the Holy Communion!
But will this funny signal sufficiently move Lincoln to restore the withdrawn honours? Too late. In their quiet contemplation, pray that Lincoln does not respond with new honors for Ghana:
Honorary Doctorate Degree for Sole Sourcing!
