Ibrahim Mahama, a well-known businessman and philanthropist, has received an honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT).
The award, given on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the university’s 18th Special Congregation, honours Mr. Mahama’s nearly three decades of service to the building and mining industries.
President John Dramani Mahama was honored as a special guest of honor along with former president John Agyekum Kufuor, the university’s chancellor.
The founder of Engineers & Planners (E&P) embraced the degree and encouraged a new generation of professionals by highlighting that, while taking an unconventional route, his success was based on strict discipline and a sense of responsibility.
“To be conferred with this honorary doctorate degree is not merely a personal honour; it is a recognition of what is possible when determination meets opportunity, when vision is pursued with unwavering discipline, and when success is shared with those who need it most,” he said.
Addressing the graduates, he added a reminder: “Do not let anyone tell you that formal education is the only path to greatness. Vision, focus, and hard work are what turn dreams into reality.”
A major emphasis of his speech was the Black Volta Gold Project, a sign of national pride in a sector traditionally controlled by foreign multinational corporations.
“For the first time, a large-scale gold mining asset in Ghana is 100 percent owned and controlled by Ghanaians. This is a statement that we can lead in capital-intensive industries once dominated by others,” Mr Mahama stressed.
The business tycoon praised UMaT’s innovative strategy, particularly its partnership with the Ghana Chamber of Mines to create an AI Robotics Center.
“AI presents profound challenges, but it also unlocks extraordinary opportunities, enhancing safety, improving efficiency, and even helping to combat illegal mining,” he noted.
UMaT further announced the creation of the Ibrahim Mahama Institute for Precious and Green Ghana, which would concentrate on sustainable mining and environmental stewardship in an effort to guarantee his legacy contributes to the sector’s future.
When President John Dramani Mahama took the podium to congratulate his younger brother, the event took a personal turn. He observed that even before Ibrahim was appointed CEO, his industrial instincts were evident.
“Even as children, Ibrahim displayed remarkable entrepreneurial instincts, always thinking of ways to create, build, and provide. I, on the other hand, have always been drawn to speaking and persuasion. It is inspiring to see how Ibrahim has turned his early entrepreneurial spark into a force for national development,” the President remarked.
