Eighteen of Ghana’s most senior Apostolic church leaders have formally declared their support for President John Dramani Mahama following Lincoln University’s withdrawal of a planned honorary doctorate, describing the president’s stance on cultural values as an act of quiet but unyielding courage.
The declaration, signed by Bishop Dr. Gideon Titi-Ofei on behalf of the group, commended Mahama for what it described as a principled stance against the promotion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI+) ideologies and for upholding the democratic integrity of Ghana’s ongoing legislative process. Signatories include Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, Archbishop Dr. Charles Agyinasare, Apostle General Sam Korankye Ankrah, and 15 other senior church figures drawn from across Ghana’s Apostolic and Pentecostal traditions.
The statement described Mahama’s leadership as a reflection of courage that is “firm yet measured, principled yet respectful,” and affirmed that Ghana “remains a sovereign nation, shaped by its history, defined by its cultural values, and guided by a moral vision that cannot be outsourced nor overridden.”
The Apostolic Fathers’ declaration deepens a wave of formal institutional church backing that has gathered pace since the controversy erupted last week. On Sunday, the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG), signed by General Secretary Rev. Dr. Cyril Fayose, aligned itself with the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference and the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council in backing the president. The CCG described the university’s last-minute reversal as deeply regrettable but said it served to underscore Mahama’s unwavering commitment to his identity as a Ghanaian and African leader.
Lincoln University cancelled the ceremony just two days before it was scheduled to take place on March 26, citing concerns raised within its community about Mahama’s perceived position on Ghana’s Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, currently before Parliament. Ghana’s Embassy in Washington described the timing as deeply concerning, noting that all logistical and programme arrangements had already been finalised, the honorary degree formally accepted, and the president already on United States soil when the cancellation was communicated.
Lincoln University, one of the oldest historically Black institutions of higher learning in the United States, had said the honour was intended to recognise Mahama’s contributions to public service, democratic governance, and global advocacy for justice, equality, and reparations. It stated that the decision to cancel was made after careful consideration of the institution’s values of equity, inclusion, and the protection of human rights for all.
In November 2025, Mahama confirmed that he would sign the bill should it reach his desk, stating: “If it comes to me as president, I will sign it.” The legislation, which Parliament first passed in 2024 but which expired without being signed by his predecessor, was reintroduced in February 2026. It seeks to criminalise identifying as LGBTQ+ or as an ally, with penalties of up to three years in prison, and would impose sentences of between five and ten years for publishing materials that advocate for LGBTQ+ equality.
Addressing members of the Ghanaian community in Philadelphia on March 26, Mahama struck a conciliatory tone, saying Lincoln University holds a special place in his heart as the institution where Ghana’s founding president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, was intellectually nurtured and grounded in his Pan-Africanist philosophy. “We cannot divorce Lincoln University from the history of Ghana,” he said.
