President John Dramani Mahama has been thinking about how Russia has helped train many African leaders. He got an honor from Russia’s Peoples’ Friendship University (RUDN University), and this recognition is pushing him to work with other African leaders to change how people see Africa and Africans around the world.
Mahama believes that today’s African leaders have a job to do. They need to actually make this vision happen in real ways.
He says this means we need better schools, stronger institutions, and more chances for young people to succeed.
“We also have to deal with the unfair treatment that African people have faced for hundreds of years because of colonialism and slavery. We need to work toward justice by having real conversations and working together with other countries,” he explained.
RUDN University gave President Mahama an honorary doctorate because of his work to help more people get education and to make Ghana and Russia work better together on education and science.
The university pointed out that Ghana is working hard to give everyone equal chances to learn. This includes the No Fee Stress program that helps over 152,000 first-year students at public universities and free college for students with disabilities.
The university also recognized that President Mahama studied in Russia for his advanced degree. Ghana and RUDN University have had a good partnership for a long time.
“You really care about making Russian-Ghanaian science and education partnerships stronger,” said Oleg A. Yastrebov, the university’s leader. He added that President Mahama’s smart leadership and programs are making it easier for people to go to school and giving Ghana better workers for the future.
“When you were president before, Ghana made sure boys and girls had equal chances to go to primary school. Now, the country keeps working to let more people get education.
“The support programme introduced has covered more than 152,000 first-year students at public universities, while free higher education has become available to students with disabilities.
“These measures demonstrate commitment to equal opportunities and the development of human potential, values that are close to RUDN University and underpin cooperation between our two countries,” he added.
During his acceptance speech, President Mahama stated: “I’m taking on this honor with humility and a fresh commitment to serve my country and the world, and to help build better understanding between different groups of people.”