The Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, has earned a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Museum and Heritage Studies from the University of Ghana.
He was among 157 scholars who graduated with doctoral degrees at the university's 2025/2026 graduation ceremony last Saturday.
President’s commendations
President John Dramani Mahama, who was the special guest at the ceremony, congratulated Mr Debrah, describing his achievement as proof that academic excellence and public service complemented each other.
The President said he had witnessed at first hand Dr Debrah’s commitment in balancing his doctoral studies with his political responsibilities.
Recalling their time on the election campaign trail, President Mahama said the Chief of Staff would occasionally excuse himself from campaign activities to meet his academic supervisor or undertake archaeological fieldwork.
“We used to be on the campaign trail together and he would run away and leave us to go and meet his supervisor,” the President said.
He recounted one field experience where the Chief of Staff and his research team were confronted by chiefs and residents while conducting excavations at an archaeological site because the community mistakenly believed they were engaged in illegal mining, locally known as galamsey.
Mistaken effort
“They were digging somewhere in Nakpanduri or something like that, and suddenly the chiefs and the villagers came out and confronted them. =
They thought they were doing galamsey,” President Mahama said.
He praised Dr Debrah’s perseverance throughout his studies, saying the achievement demonstrated the value of lifelong learning.
“His achievement is a powerful reminder that learning is a lifelong pursuit and that public service and academic excellence are not mutually exclusive. =
They are, indeed, mutually reinforcing,” President Mahama said.
“I suspect he may now begin reminding me that every argument requires stronger evidence and that every quotation deserves a proper citation. I shall, therefore, have to be very much more careful in future,” the President added humourously.
