New Patriotic Party (NPP) Third Vice National Chairman Nana Akomea has urged President John Dramani Mahama to apologise to former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for previously criticising sitting presidents who accepted honorary awards.

Writing on Facebook on 29 October 2026, Akomea said Mahama’s recent honorary doctorate from the Russian University of Transport had brought back comments he made when Akufo-Addo received similar honours while in office.

Akomea said he was pleased for Mahama but disappointed by what he described as the contrast between the President’s earlier position and his decision to accept awards during his own presidency.

“I was happy for my good friend President Mahama, but sad at the same time. President Akufo-Addo got some honorary awards in his time as President. I remember John Mahama’s cruel commentary and criticism,” he wrote.

According to Akomea, Mahama had argued that honorary awards should be presented to presidents only after they had left office. He said Mahama believed a former president’s record could then be assessed properly before deciding whether such recognition was deserved.

Akomea also recalled Mahama’s alleged claim that Akufo-Addo had used the influence of his office to secure honorary doctorates from universities.

“He said the awards to President Akufo-Addo were inappropriate. He said it was inappropriate for a sitting president to receive honorary awards. He said that it was best for Akufo-Addo to wait till after retirement from the presidency, for a proper appraisal to be made as to whether he deserved the honorary awards,” Akomea wrote.

He questioned why Mahama had now accepted similar honours while serving as president, saying the current president had received three or four honorary doctorates in less than two years in office, including the latest award in Russia.

“John Mahama has been president for less than two years. Counting the award in Russia, he has received three or four honorary doctorates,” he stated.

Akomea said Mahama owed Akufo-Addo an apology to protect his integrity.

“For the sake of his Integrity, President Mahama owes President Akufo-Addo an unqualified apology on this matter of honorary awards,” he added.

Mahama honoured by Russian University of Transport

The Russian University of Transport awarded Mahama an honorary doctorate, making him the first sitting Head of State to receive the distinction from the institution.

The university said the honour recognised his contributions to Ghana’s national development, particularly his investments in transport infrastructure, education and professional training.

A separate tally covering the period from 2012 to 2026 states that Mahama has received honorary doctorates on eight occasions.