Mahama urges African leaders to translate Nkrumah and Lumumba’s vision into action

President John Dramani Mahama has urged African leaders to turn the vision of Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, and Congolese independence leader Patrice Lumumba into practical action that improves the lives of people across the continent.

He said the ideals championed by the two leaders, particularly African dignity, sovereignty and economic independence, should be reflected in the quality of education, the strength of public institutions and the opportunities available to young people.

President Mahama made the call in Moscow while delivering his acceptance speech after receiving an honorary doctorate from the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University).

Reflecting on the legacies of Nkrumah and Lumumba, he said their generation had challenged Africans to imagine a future in which the continent could determine its own path and pursue development on its own terms.

“For Ghanaians, his name is closely aligned with our first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, whose conviction was that African freedom must extend beyond raising national flags to true freedom and independence,” he said.

President Mahama noted that Nkrumah believed political independence would have little meaning if African countries could not develop their economies, shape their societies and provide their citizens with lives of dignity.

He said the responsibility of present-day African leaders was to translate those aspirations into tangible improvements in the lives of their people.

“Our responsibility as present-day African leaders is to give practical expression to that aspiration of our forebears,” he stated.

According to him, this responsibility requires governments to invest in quality education, build strong institutions and create opportunities that allow young Africans to develop their talents and contribute meaningfully to national progress.

President Mahama also called for renewed attention to historical injustices suffered by people of African descent through colonial domination and the transatlantic slave trade.

He said the pursuit of justice should be supported by informed dialogue and international cooperation, with universities playing an important role in examining the past and preserving historical memory.

“Universities have an important contribution to make through rigorous scholarship, the preservation of historical memory, and the freedom to examine difficult truths,” he said.

The President made the remarks while reflecting on the significance of receiving the honorary doctorate from an institution named after Lumumba, whose struggle for African dignity and sovereignty, he said, remained an important part of the continent’s history.

He described the university as a symbol of the solidarity and friendship extended by the former Soviet Union and Russia to countries emerging from colonial rule in Africa.

Over the decades, he noted, the institution had provided educational opportunities to thousands of African students, many of whom returned home to contribute to building their newly independent nations.

President Mahama said the university’s founding mission of promoting friendship among peoples remained relevant in a world troubled by conflict and mistrust.

He stressed that cooperation between countries, particularly in education and research, could help address shared challenges such as public health, food security, energy and climate change.

The President also reaffirmed his commitment to expanding educational opportunities in Ghana, arguing that no talented young person should be denied the chance to study because of financial difficulties.

“A talented young person should not lose the chance to study because their family cannot afford the cost,” he said.

He highlighted initiatives such as Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education, the school feeding programme and Free Senior High School as part of efforts to reduce financial barriers and widen access to education.

However, he stressed that access alone was not enough, insisting that education must equip young people with the practical skills needed to solve problems, find employment and contribute to national development.

President Mahama further called for stronger academic partnerships between Ghana and Russia through student exchanges, joint research, scholarships and professional training.

He welcomed discussions on a proposed Russian-African studies programme and an invitation for Ghanaian students to pursue specialised studies at the university.

Addressing students, he urged them to use their education to serve their communities and uphold integrity wherever their careers took them.

“Wherever your career takes you, remember the communities whose hopes are invested in your education,” he said.

President Mahama said the honour bestowed on him was a reminder that leadership must remain open to learning and that knowledge should ultimately serve humanity.

He expressed hope that the friendship between Ghana and Russia would create more opportunities for young people and strengthen cooperation in education, peace and development.