President Mahama calls for stronger Ghana-Russia educational ties to empower young people
President John Dramani Mahama has called for stronger educational partnerships between Ghana and Russia, urging both countries to deepen academic cooperation through student exchanges, joint research, scholarships and professional training to equip young people with the knowledge and skills needed for national development.
Speaking during his acceptance speech after receiving an honorary doctorate from the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University) in Moscow, President Mahama said closer collaboration between Ghanaian and Russian institutions would create opportunities for young people while strengthening ties between the two countries.
“We should build on these foundations to create stronger partnerships between Ghanaian and Russian institutions. We should exchange students and faculty, conduct joint research, and provide professional training,” he said.
The President noted that such partnerships could offer practical opportunities in engineering, medicine, energy and other areas of mutual interest, stressing that academic cooperation must respond to clearly identified needs and benefit researchers and students in both countries.
President Mahama expressed appreciation to the Russian government for the scholarships awarded to Ghanaian students and its continued support for educational cooperation, acknowledging the university’s role in helping African students acquire knowledge and skills to contribute to the development of their home countries.
“The experiences of our students illustrate a lasting truth about international cooperation: its deepest influence is often found in people’s lives,” he said.
According to him, a student who receives a scholarship and returns home can transform the fortunes of a family, while research partnerships can improve public services and friendships formed in universities can foster understanding between cultures for decades.
President Mahama further emphasised that education remained central to Ghana’s development ambitions, arguing that financial constraints should not prevent talented young people from accessing learning opportunities.
“A talented young person should not lose the chance to study because their family cannot afford the cost,” he stated.
He highlighted government initiatives, including Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education, the school feeding programme and the Free Senior High School policy, as measures aimed at reducing financial barriers to education. He also cited support for students with disabilities and improved access to financing for tertiary students as part of efforts to expand educational opportunities.
The President, however, stressed that expanding access must go hand in hand with improving the quality of education to ensure that graduates acquire skills relevant to employment, citizenship and solving real-world problems.
“Expanding access must go hand in hand with improving quality and ensuring that what students learn equips them for the demands of work and citizenship,” he said.
He added that stronger relationships among universities, industry and government were essential to translating research into practical solutions and creating opportunities for students to gain experience and turn their abilities into sustainable livelihoods.
President Mahama also urged African leaders to give practical expression to the ideals of Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, and Congolese independence leader Patrice Lumumba, whose legacies he said remained relevant to Africa’s pursuit of dignity, sovereignty and development.
He said the aspirations of the continent’s founding leaders should be reflected in the quality of schools, the strength of institutions and the opportunities created for young people.
Addressing students at the university, President Mahama encouraged them to take full advantage of their education, learn from people of different backgrounds and uphold integrity in their professional and personal lives.
“Wherever your career takes you, remember the communities whose hopes are invested in your education,” he said, adding that knowledge could be used to improve healthcare, support farmers, strengthen public institutions and create employment.
President Mahama described the honorary doctorate as both an encouragement to continue working for education and peaceful cooperation among peoples and a reminder that leadership must remain open to continuous learning.
He also reflected on his personal connection with Russia, saying his return to the university campus after almost 40 years brought a sense of nostalgia, having studied in the country as a postgraduate student.
He expressed hope that the longstanding friendship between Ghana and Russia would generate further educational opportunities for young people and strengthen cooperation in the pursuit of knowledge and development.
