Lincoln University cancels honorary degree for president of Ghana over ‘anti-gay’ legislation, embassy says

Lincoln University has withdrawn plans to issue an honorary degree to the president of Ghana, citing concerns about so-called “anti-gay” legislation before the country’s parliament, according to reports in Ghana media.

“It is ... both surprising and regrettable that, just hours ago, the Embassy received a communication from the University indicating that concerns had been raised by a group regarding President [John Dramani] Mahama’s perceived position on Ghana’s Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill,” according to a statement from the Embassy of Ghana in the United States, as reported by news outlets in Ghana.

The bill, first passed by parliament in 2024, was not signed into law by Mahama’s predecessor, but is now back before parliament again and could come before him. The bill, as previously passed, would have imposed jail terms on people who identify as LGBTQ or engage in organizing gay advocacy groups, according to The New York Times, which said it was among a wave of anti-gay legislation in African countries.

Mahama, who became president of Ghana last year, is expected to visit Philadelphia on Thursday and make a number of stops. Others planned included a visit to Temple University, the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia, and a Ghana-focused pop-up opening at Brown’s ShopRite, according to Fun Times magazine.

Temple University, which also is hosting the president for an event but is not awarding an honorary degree, said it will go forward with the visit.

“As a public university, Temple regularly provides space for speakers as part of our ongoing commitment to academic inquiry, open dialogue and public service,” Temple said in a statement, while calling the anti-LGBTQ bill “deeply troubling” and saying it runs counter to the university’s mission and values.

Temple’s decision has brought a backlash from LGBTQ groups, elected officials, and others. A group of elected officials and advocates wrote a letter Wednesday expressing concern. Officials from ACT UP Philadelphia, AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania, the Mazzoni Center, and William Way LGBT Community Center signed the letter, as did State Reps. Andre Carroll and Malcolm Kenyatta and City Councilmember Rue Landau.

“This is not an abstract policy discussion. It is about the safety, dignity, and survival of LGBTQ people globally,” they wrote. “Hosting this dialogue without intentional accountability risks legitimizing rhetoric and policies that endanger lives. To proceed with this event without addressing these concerns would signal a troubling disconnect between stated institutional values and actual practice.”

Mahama’s visit to Philadelphia is part of a larger itinerary for a visit to the United States. The president on Wednesday plans to address the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Lincoln declined to comment on the specific reasons for the cancellation of the honorary degree.

“Due to unforeseen circumstances, the university is canceling the visit,” Athena Griffith-Howard, a university spokesperson, told The Inquirer in a statement.

Lincoln is the alma mater of Ghana’s first president Kwame Nkrumah, and Lincoln has maintained ties to the country. The university had previously expressed excitement about Mahama’s visit and was making preparations.

The Ghanaian embassy indicated Lincoln made its decision after hearing concerns from stakeholders.

“While the embassy acknowledges Lincoln University’s right to engage its internal stakeholders and uphold its institutional values, we note with concern that the issues now being raised relate to ongoing legislative processes within Ghana, which are subject to democratic deliberation and are not the unilateral position of any one individual,” the statement reportedly said.

As for the visit to Temple, the university said the U.S.-Ghana Chamber of Commerce had invited the president to participate in a community event and asked if the university could provide a space.

The visit is scheduled to take place at Temple’s Performing Arts Center at 6 p.m. Thursday and feature discussion, cultural music, and performances.

“We have made venues available for third-party organizations, including political parties or campaigns, regardless of their political viewpoint or stance,” the school said. “The presence of any speaker on campus is not an endorsement by Temple University of the speaker or their views.”

The university also made clear its position on LGBTQ rights.

“Temple University unequivocally opposes the exclusion of or discrimination against members of the LGBTQIA+ community,“ the school said. ”Temple takes pride in providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all students, faculty, staff, alumni, neighbors, and friends regardless of their race, nationality, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or identity.”

But those who authored the letter of concern Wednesday said they received an invitation to the event that appeared to be supported by Temple’s Institutional Diversity, Equity, Advocacy, Leadership organization (IDEAL). They asked that the event include questions about the legislation.

“These deadly policies should not go unquestioned or unchallenged, especially since this event is sponsored by IDEAL, which has a strong commitment to the BIPOC, LGBTQ and Ghanaian students at Temple,” they wrote.

Tiffenia D. Archie, Temple’s associate vice president and chief inclusion officer, said in a letter to a member of the community that IDEAL stopped promoting the event as soon as it became aware of the controversy.

“This decision reflects our commitment to ensuring that IDEAL’s programming aligns with the university’s values,” Archie wrote in the letter, obtained by The Inquirer.