Here’s wishing you a joyful, healthy, and successful 2026. Welcome back to campus!
This March, Ashesi will mark 24 years of shaping African leaders and innovators. As we enter our 25th year, our mission—to educate the next generation of ethical entrepreneurial leaders—remains as important as ever.
We are making excellent progress on our strategic plan, Beyond the Horizon: launching new undergraduate, master’s, and executive programs; fostering greater inclusion; expanding our campus; and strengthening our team.
In 2026, we will implement a new academic calendar to maximize our impact year-round, reach more students, and deepen our commitment to research and innovation. We will continue to integrate Artificial Intelligence into teaching and university operations. And amid shifting global dynamics, we must engage seriously with the re-emergence of great-power competition and consider how African leaders should navigate it. There are lessons to be learned from Asian economies that successfully navigated the Cold War in the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
Recent global strategies, such as the 2025 US National Security Strategy, signal a shift in how the world engages with Africa—from a focus on aid to one of investment and partnership. This new approach recognizes Africa’s vast natural resources and economic potential and seeks collaboration with nations committed to growth and openness.
However, history shows that resource extraction alone has not brought widespread prosperity to our continent. With Africa’s population projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050, sustainable progress will require industrialization and the creation of goods and services for both local and global markets. Robust economic growth will not only benefit Africans but also make the continent a more attractive partner and market in the global economy.
In this context, universities like Ashesi have a vital role to play. By developing human capital and strong institutions, we can help unlock Africa’s potential far beyond natural resources. We must also strengthen our ties with leading universities worldwide, fostering collaboration and mutual understanding that will drive innovation and shared success.
As we enter our twenty-fifth year, I find myself still energized by the work we do in service of the future happiness of Africans everywhere. However long you’ve been at Ashesi, and whatever role you play in our community, I trust that you do too. I look forward to advancing Ashesi and Africa’s future together, this year, and beyond.
All the best in 2026 and may we continue to find strength in our purpose.
June 20, Kigali, Rwanda– Hundreds of university leaders, faculty and administrators, and higher education stakeholders met this week to sketch a student-first blueprint for the continent’s campuses, committing to new integrated services, career-focused curricula, and cross-border partnerships in service of student success. Under the theme “Re-centering Student Development,” the Education Collaborative’s 2025 June Convening, the largest yet in the initiative’s eight-year history, focused on a subject gaining momentum across the continent: student success as a driver of institutional excellence in Africa.
Over four days, participants from more than 16 African countries engaged in practical dialogue on how to transform student support—from personalized learning and coaching to career development and alumni engagement—into a strategic pillar within universities. Hosted in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, the convening was co-organized by Ashesi University, Covenant University, and the University of Embu. Among the attendees were student leaders from across the continent, four of whom took the stage during the opening session to share lessons drawn from their own campus experiences.
“If you want to understand student development, don’t just look at classrooms and lectures,” said Liyabona Nqumani, a student from Rhodes University in South Africa. “Look at where students sleep, eat, and form their identities. That is where leadership grows. That is where transformation begins. [Universities] are not just where leaders learn—they are where leaders live.”
Rooted in Community, Driven by Mission Since its founding in 2017, the Education Collaborative has grown into a pan-African network of institutions committed to transforming higher education systems on the continent. What began with 12 institutions now welcomes more than 70, and the network has directly engaged over 500 universities in its broader programming to date.
Ashesi has received accreditation to begin a new Bachelor of Science in Biological Engineering program, developed over the last two years with partners and industry leaders. Applications are open for students to join in September 2025 or January 2026 for the inaugural class. While other programs focus primarily on the biomedical sector, this interdisciplinary degree trains versatile engineers ready to innovate across biotechnology, bioinformatics, neuroengineering, and beyond.
The new program builds on Ashesi’s expanding bioengineering research footprint, catalyzed by the university’s participation in the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition since 2017. In 2023, the Biolith team, comprising Ashesi undergraduates, earned a gold medal in Paris for engineering bacteria that detect and extract lithium. In 2024, the student team Sea Titans also won gold for developing a bio-concrete pentapod that tackles coastal erosion and sea plastic pollution. The projects underscore the depth of synthetic biology expertise on campus.
“As a university, we started discussing introducing biological engineering to our curriculum in response to the COVID‑19 pandemic and the influx of vaccine companies wanting to set up production in the region,” says Dr. Elena Rosca, Head of Ashesi’s Engineering Department. “We are looking to educate engineers who can step in to support the development of these factories and vaccines or any other medicines being developed in Africa.”
The Biological Engineering program shares its rigorous multidisciplinary core—spanning engineering design, ethics, and leadership—with other Ashesi majors, while layering on specialized biological engineering coursework. A hallmark of the degree is a year-long capstone project, during which students partner with faculty mentors to tackle real-world challenges—from repurposing medicines using bioinformatics, to designing responsive and intelligent prostheses. Students who graduate from the program, will be able to:
Apply engineering design to develop solutions with community health, safety, and welfare in mind.
Engage in cross-functional teamwork, combining ideas from engineering, biology, and business.
Be able to step into roles in public and private sectors—ranging from hospitals and biotech firms to founding startups in bio-manufacturing.
Esi Cobblah found out about Ashesi’s Mechatronic Engineering program from an advertisement when she was an undergraduate electrical engineering student at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana. The program was new, but the industry partners and the opportunity to receive guidance in starting a career appealed to her. She applied, and in January 2022, she arrived on campus as a member of the program’s pioneering cohort.
As a master’s student at Ashesi, Cobblah found a strong sense of camaraderie and support from her peers, as well as from the program’s faculty and staff.
“We bonded and developed good relationships because we spent quite a bit of time together,” she says. “We relied on each other and knew that we could count on each other. You could knock on someone’s door for whatever you needed and knew that they would help if they could.”
Despite the focus of her learning being mechatronic engineering, the program also exposed students to subject areas they may not have considered as necessary for their chosen field. Courses on leadership, economics, and financial accounting included in the curriculum, for example, stood out for Cobblah.
During her internship with Nestlé, Cobblah quickly realized that her supervisors trusted the level of expertise and work ethic she and her peers from Ashesi’s Mechatronic Engineering program brought.
“They appreciated the fact that we were coming from this program that had taught us to think broadly and were open to hearing our ideas,” she explains. “They supported us with company knowledge, but we also had the freedom to explore and share what we thought could work. And I believe the program prepared us well for this kind of environment.”
Cobblah has now come to believe that this interdisciplinary training is crucial to preparing for a well-rounded career.
“Even if you’re entering a technical field, you won’t only be interacting with people with similar educational backgrounds and expertise. This programme opens your mind to different perspectives and lets you know that it takes more than the technical expertise to make you a good engineer.”
In recognition of her extraordinary contributions to education, public health, and economic empowerment, Mastercard Foundation CEO Reeta Roy was named the inaugural recipient of the Ashesi University Medal. The award, the highest the University can confer, was presented to Roy on June 5, 2025, during the year’s Commencement Ceremony.
Honorable Member of Parliament for Akwapim South, Lawrencia Adjoa Dziwornu
Distinguished Guest Speaker, Reeta Roy
Members of the Board of Directors
Representative of Odeefuo Oteng-Korankye II; Nananom
Distinguished Guests
Parents, family, and friends
My colleagues here at Ashesi University
and Dear Class of 2025,
Welcome to the 21st commencement ceremony of Ashesi University.
Class of 2025, congratulations on achieving this important milestone in your life’s journey!
Let us also take a moment to thank all those whose contributions have helped bring you to this Commencement day: your families who supported you along the way; the faculty who guided your learning here; the administrators and support staff who made this campus a nurturing environment; and our donors and friends whose generosity helped build this institution and funded the education of many who otherwise could not have afforded to be here.
Class of 2025, do you remember my message to you on your matriculation day at Ashesi? My guess is, you probably don’t remember much of what was said, but that you remember being here in the Archer-Cornfield Courtyard being welcomed to this community. Even though you might not exactly remember my charge to you, no doubt, over the course of your study here, you experienced some of what I talked about.
Let me remind you.
I shared the words of a Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu:
“A leader is best when people barely know he exists. When his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.”
Remember?
I shared Lao Tzu’s words to make that point that here at Ashesi, we believe in collective ownership, and I urged you to be part of the “leadership” of this institution. I wanted you to conduct yourselves in such a manner that you would later look at your contributions and say, ‘We did it ourselves!” I also invited each of you to give some thought to what you might do to add to Ashesi’s excellence during your time here, not just for the sake of your alma mater, but as a powerful way to determine some purpose to guide your university journey.
Well, here we are at the completion of your education here.
We are all proud of your accomplishments, and I hope that as you reflect on your years here, you too, feel a great sense of satisfaction about the many facets of your journey thus far. I invite you to take a moment to reflect on your accomplishments and to allow yourself the sense of satisfaction that you did it yourselves.
Today marks the end of one chapter in your journey and the beginning of the rest of your lives. Just as on your matriculation day, this next chapter too would benefit from finding a purpose to guide you. This is what I would like to join you in a conversation about today.
Purpose – one’s intent– matters. And it matters in things big and small.
Let me illustrate with a scenario that we have all become familiar with — the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the learning process. Students who use AI with the intent to learn use it differently from those who use it with intent simply get an agent to do their work for them. The first group might use AI as a coach that helps them grasp difficult concepts, whereas the second group offloads thinking and analysis to AI, thereby learning little. Purpose, in this example, makes a profound difference in learning outcomes.
So too, it does in life.
Did you notice on matriculation day, that the criteria I suggested for finding your purpose involved the Ashesi Community? Did you notice that I did not only ask you to think about a purpose for yourself, but how your purpose might affect the community you just joined? My words to you that day were subtle, but important. By suggesting that you consider the Ashesi Community, I was asking you to look beyond yourselves. On the other hand, by limiting the scope to the Ashesi Community, as opposed to the whole world, for example, I was setting a boundary for your exploration. I wanted you to start with a manageable scope, but I also trusted that because Ashesi University looks beyond itself, we would help you raise your sight over time.
You see, your purpose will change over time, and that is how it should be. That is how it works for most people, and it is certainly how it was for me.
When I was graduating from college, I had a very simple goal: do well in the job I had just secured and support my family back home in Ghana. Succeeding in my career required continuous learning and hard work. Contributing financially to my family provided a sense of urgency and satisfaction.
Over time, I looked beyond myself and my family and sought to make a bigger impact in Africa. I ultimately decided to establish a university in Ghana that would educate a new generation of African leaders, and I enrolled in graduate school to prepare myself for the task at hand. My new purpose enriched my MBA education at UC Berkeley, because it brought all that we learned to life for me. I found myself constantly asking how lessons learned in each class might apply to the university I planned to build. And I developed a business plan for Ashesi University with help from some of my classmates before I graduated.
In the same way, I encourage you to see the coming years as an opportunity for growth. Growth in ambition, virtue, and wisdom.
How might you become a leader who inspires people so deeply commit themselves to your vision, that when it is done, they will say, “we did it ourselves!”?
The answer to this question lies in the size of the purpose you eventually set for yourself. Throughout human history, the leaders who have made transformative change in their organizations, in their countries and in the world, are those who are able to formulate a purpose beyond themselves. Those whose ambitions embrace the wellbeing of others are the ones who inspire collective effort and patriotism. They are the ones who change the world.
I hope you will grow to become leaders such as these.
Congratulations, Class of 2025, and Godspeed in this next chapter of your lives.
The number of chromosomes each parent contributes during fertilization is 23. As a class that has had two parent institutions—Ashesi University and ETH Zurich—it is an honour to have inherited our social and academic DNA from both institutions.
I stand on all existing protocols, and I say good morning to you all once again. I am proud to stand before you today as a member of Ashesi University’s pioneer class of graduate students—the Graduate Class of 2024. It is timely that the 24 of us in this pioneering class are here, 20 years after Ashesi’s pioneering undergraduates, the Class of 2005, also took to this stage. Permit me to say, things were just a little bit different.
Ashesi operated out of two small rented buildings in Accra; the entire audience for that ceremony was about two-thirds the size of today’s graduating classes. And in many ways, the Class of 2005 was stepping out into the world with much more uncertainty about whether the Ashesi education would actually translate into the world of work the way it promised.
But on January 12, 2022, when Dr. Elegba, Dr. Mertens, and Max Grau welcomed us to our hostel, we had arrived at a university that had seen the impact of Ashesi’s Class of 2005, and the seventeen classes that had followed them. We were pioneers, but in many ways, we were also beneficiaries. The Mechatronic Engineering program we had been accepted into had the benefit of an incredible Ghanaian university in Ashesi, and the decades of engineering teaching experience of Switzerland’s ETH Zurich. We had the benefit of scholarships, career connections, and support from strong organisations. We had access to labs and resources that the Class of 2005 could have only dreamed of. So we arrived as pioneers—but with far more opportunity than our predecessors.
And so, to my fellow graduate students and my colleague undergraduate students: we get to dream bigger. How will our work, our lives, and our experiences benefit the students who will walk into Ashesi seventeen more classes from now?
Our time at Ashesi gave us a glimpse of how we could grow professionally and personally, while also growing in service to others. From helping Admissions with recruitment drives to helping new graduate students settle in, this class has continuously shown an immense sense of community. Esi and Miki turned their room into an extension of the classroom, staying up long hours to teach whoever walked through their door. From our Friday nights at Dufie eating kenkey together—because, as Ernest would always say, “Person wey dey alive wey dey chop”—we learnt and embraced our differences and found joy in learning from each other. That balance kept us going, even when, in Asante’s words, “you don’t get it.”
We got to be inspired by incredible faculty. We crossed bridges we thought were impossible. We learnt the importance of teamwork. But most importantly, we learnt to embrace the uniqueness of our differences. In a world that is filled with many voices and opinions, we learnt to do signal processing—not just on our computers, but most importantly in our minds. To become better at understanding which voices matter, and which ones do not.
In our time at Ashesi, many seeds have been sown in us, and each has the potential to grow into a great tree—whose seeds grow into greater trees. Every day, by our actions and decisions, we choose to nurture or stunt the growth of these seeds. In 17 or 20 years, when taking stock, will we have inspired growth and development? Will our actions have lifted people above the poverty line, improved education access, or helped industrialise this continent we call home? It is important that we demonstrate to the world what ethical work, leadership, and followership look like through our daily routine. As we leave campus today, let us ask ourselves what the Ashesi pillars mean to us, and what success would mean for us in the years to come.
To our families, partners, friends, and mentors who have journeyed patiently with us during this program—we cannot thank you enough. Our presence here today is as much for you as it is for us.
Prof. Angela, we cannot thank you enough. You were many things to us: an inspiration, a mother, a friend, and an employer.
Dean Abdul and the team at the Student Affairs Office—thank you for the advice and support in ensuring social and academic balance.
Prof. Amanquah, maybe one day we will know how you juggle all your roles and keep all this running the way you do.
To the broader Ashesi community—our faculty—thank you for the knowledge you have imparted, the coordination, and for always being there for us.
To Mariette, Edo, Andrea, Isabel, and Antoinette—we recognize and deeply appreciate your dedication to making this program a success for us. Thank you.
To the Mechatronic Engineering Graduate Class of 2024! We could all learn a lesson or two from Bernard and Oluwamurewa about friendship and brotherhood, learn to make the most of every moment like Paulo, be quiet leaders like Joan, Abigail, and Evans. Let us continue to be true to ourselves while we keep memories of Solomon’s laughter, Papa T and Dr. Armah’s anecdotes, and life on a campus that became home. Let us keep the flame of scholarship, leadership, and citizenship burning. Let us go forth and be the change we want to see in the world.
And knowing all of us, there is no limit to where we can get to. So whether you are doing computational neuroscience, making palm paste, cementing your place at Holcim, leading projects, or doing research—always remember that whether you think you can or you cannot, you are right.
If you need any inspiration, look no further than this stage. Look at the work of Madam Reeta Roy and her team at the Mastercard Foundation in promoting equitable access to tertiary education around the world. Look at the work our very own Dr. Patrick Awuah is doing with a team that has come a long way from humble beginnings. Look at Ashesi’s Class of 2005 and all who came after them. We are entreated to also move from this Ashesi—and also be the Ashesi of many great things.
Our hope is that someday the cohorts and classes after us will look to us and also believe that they can do amazing things. Ashesi has given us everything we need—and more—to make any dream a reality.
And in the spirit of Ashesi, let me end by quoting Johann Wolfgang von Goethe:
“Are you in earnest? Seize this very minute— What you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Only engage, and then the mind grows heated— Begin it, and the work will be completed!”
Thank you. Asante. Danke. Merci. Me da mo ase. May God bless us all.
As I stand before you all, I would like to let you know that as of today, the Ashesi Class of 2025 is officially “Active Wai.” And anyone who doubted us, or even if we doubted ourselves, needs to rethink. Nana Oteng Krankyen the second, Nananom, board members present, president of Ashesi, Dr. Patrick Awuah, distinguished guest speaker, Madam Rita Roy, all Ashesi staff and faculty, parents, guardians present and online, fellow graduands, distinguished ladies and gentlemen.
I am honoured to address you all today. My name is Maame Gyanwaa Otchere Duah. It is interesting to note that we were part of the top 20% of applicants to be selected into this prestigious institution four years ago. Yet there were so many days we questioned or doubted ourselves, because our grades were not a reflection of who we knew ourselves to be. There were times we felt like quitting and questioned what truly mattered. There were also times we had to deal with holding back our tears because we were falling apart under all the workload. Yet, today, we receive certificates for having stood firm.
I believe we all deserve some accolades because today marks the triumph through the struggles. From the very first day we stepped foot on this soil and were told to drink from the waters of Ashesi (which many till today, do not know was tap water), I knew we were in for a ride. The unfortunate start of our journey was having to come on campus and cope with a new normal due to COVID-19. Managing life with uncomfortable nose masks, constant reminders of sanitizing and social distancing as we bid farewell to our guardians was tough, but this was just the unfolding of the journey to come.
How many of you recall FDE (Foundations of Distress and Exhaustion as someone once wrote on a board). FDE 1 midsem exam. So many freshmen coming out of Norton Motulsky looking dejected because what on earth were those questions? And that’s when I asked myself, “Am I in the right school?” 2025 looked like it was decades away but so soon this journey has come to its end. Many times, the phrases “ego be chale” and “I am surviving” were a means of sharing common suffering.
All these were encompassed with the accelerated semester which left many of us disheartened because of losing the opportunity to take up internships or our own summer plans. For me, it was driving. For others, it was a vacation or bae-cation lost. This period was a true test for our parents and guardians and we are glad they sailed through. Our tears, our fears, our stresses and discouraged faces throughout the days, weeks, months and might I add, years, has been a classic case of what I ordered versus what I got.
These have not been without some good laughs and joyous moments. The debate about which course is the hardest will never fade. See the numbers of engineers falling over the years. Engineering no ey3 calling oh. The people left are the last ones standing. However, we have metamorphosized like rocks, having stood the test of time from the pressures and stresses of academic and social life. We stepped on these grounds as boys and girls. Now we are leaving as men and women, going into the world beyond this so-called bubble.
Much like the corporate world which many of us desire to go into, there will always be consequences for our actions. Sometimes a little mistake can cost us major wins and happiness. Other times temporary satisfaction with longs suffering was not worth it. I know our parents can attest to the fact. You may not realize but Ashesi is the one place that encourages that you take the chance, possibly make the mistake, go back to the drawing board and come out better.
Amidst all this pressure, this hill has been transformative. From Artie’s Delight, To Mina Minks, BDS Logistictics, M & C bar, Mystery foods, Stack and Rolls, Wigs Lair, Maxline watches, Jococo, Nail-Aura (my business) and more. We have not only embodied entrepreneurial spirits but resilience. This community has birthed many beautiful relationships, by the numerous friend groups in and outside the classroom. It has also allowed us the opportunity to engage with so many people from various backgrounds and walks of life which we can never take for granted.
Stepping onto these grounds not so sure of what to make of the Ashesi culture, our year group was caught up in the mist of discovery. Wondering what exactly Ashesi culture meant, Whether it was saying Hi to everyone you met as you passed by each day, calling faculty and staff by their first names or being able to walk into the Dean’s office to have random conversations. Much like culture, this university makes emphasis on community and that is the basis of our culture. Togetherness. Much like Ubuntu, I am because of who we are. This is the Ashesi Culture.
Even beyond these walls, as we gear up to join the alumni network, much like Liverpool, Ashesi alumni relations will never leave us to walk alone. Ashesi’s mission is to raise ethical entrepreneurial leaders. However, it feels like sometimes they’re raising soldiers for battle. Probably foreshadowing the recent developments surrounding the military training for national service. These four years have been far from perfect. There have been many opportunities gained and some failures experienced.
From heated arguments in groups, dealing with roommate issues, broken bonds, frustrations from capstone projects and camu becoming our worst nightmare for course selection and grade releases during our breaks. So now I ask:
How many of you have calculated how you will pass a course because the quizzes and midsem exams were threatening your GPA?
How many of you recall taking so many photos of the calculations during the math and quant classes and never going back to view them?
How many of you have ever received an email from the provost office for missing class?
How many of you have never had a late submission?
How many of you have been to Fab lab or the field to pray, reflect or clear your mind?
And finally, how many of you are still confused about what TO DO AFTER SCHOOL?
Ashesi has taught us about not having everything figured out. It seems scary at times but sincerely, there is beauty in uncertainty, when you are being guided by the right people. As time unfolds, we grow wiser and tougher. That is why every class starts with an objective and ends with lessons learned. Our lecturers not only teach but they soon become mentors. Their constant reminders of life after school being far worse sometimes makes us wonder whether we wished to stay here longer. However, we can never turn back oh, it won’t make sense, we’ve already come too far.
Most of the time, we are so fixated on the negatives that we are not even willing to try. However, as Neil Strauss once said, “Great things never came from comfort zones.” Indeed, these walls have pushed us and brought out the best in us. As I wrap up this speech, I want to conclude by saying, thank you to our guardians for being there every step of the way. Your sacrifice and endurance even as the school fees doubled and tripled is much appreciated. To our founder and president, Dr. Patrick Awuah, we are most grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this community and its values. And to faculty, we only now realize that we never needed to be spoon-fed because you taught us how to fend for ourselves by our reasoning through your guidance. A special thank you to my parents for being my support system and motivation. To God for never letting me down, and to all my amazing friends and well-wishers.
Now to my fellow graduands, I want you to take a look around you because these are faces you might never see again. Maybe because our paths will differ after school. But as we say goodbye to this chapter with hopes of embracing the next, just as the name Ashesi means beginning, May this be the beginning of greater opportunities to come. Trust me if you’ve gone through Ashesi, there is nothing you cannot withstand. One thing I know for sure is that the greater the risk, the higher the return. So do not give up on taking the opportunity that scares you, do not give up on that dream and never lose hope.
As my lecturer Alex once said, when we lose hope, we lose everything. Fear is false evidence appearing real. So whenever you are in doubt, remember this, “you are the light of this world, no matter how you perceive things. An Ashesian must shine like a city on a hill.”
As part of its commitment to curating meaningful, high-impact engagements for students, the Entrepreneurship Committee of the Ashesi Student Council (ASC) launched a masterclass series for entrepreneurship. Titled Pioneer’s Path, the series aims at connecting students with some of Ghana’s most impactful entrepreneurs.
The first session in the series, held in collaboration with Ashesi’s Centre for Entrepreneurship, featured Captain Prince Kofi Amoabeng, co-founder of the former UT Bank. His story was not only inspiring but also rich with practical insights for young entrepreneurs navigating their journeys.
From building a modest lending business to leading one of Ghana’s most recognized financial institutions, Captain Amoabeng shared hard-earned lessons on scalability, innovation, and customer-centered growth. Drawing from his military background, he emphasized discipline, strategy, and resilience as foundational pillars of entrepreneurial success.
He did not focus solely on wins. Captain Amoabeng candidly reflected on the collapse of UT Bank, using it as a case study on the importance of strong governance, adaptability, and humility. His openness about failure resonated strongly with students—many of whom are learning to embrace risk and uncertainty as part of their entrepreneurial journeys.
A cross section of the students who attended the Masterclass
He challenged students to build businesses rooted in integrity and driven by purpose. In a landscape where the pressure to compromise can be high, his call to prioritize values over shortcuts was both timely and deeply resonant.
During the interactive Q&A, he tackled questions on financial management, risk, and customer retention with clarity, offering actionable insights that students could immediately apply to their ideas and ventures.
The next session of the Pioneer’s Path masterclass series will feature Sangu Delle, CEO of CarePoint, a tech-enabled healthcare company building the future of healthcare in Africa. He is also the Founder and Chairman of Golden Palm Investments, which backs leading technology ventures across the continent, and serves as the Board Chair of Ashesi University.
April 11, 2025 – In recognition of his dedication and transformative contributions to African higher education, Ashesi University President Patrick Awuah was awarded an honourary Doctor of Education degree by Sun Moon University in South Korea. The ceremony took place at the University’s Asan Campus and was attended by university leadership, faculty, guests, and members of the wider university community.
The honourary degree followed Awuah’s acceptance of the 2025 Sunhak Peace Prize and further recognized his vision and commitment to creating ethical, entrepreneurial leaders equipped to drive meaningful change on the continent. As part of the visit, Awuah and Sun Moon University President Seong Jea Moon signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to pursue collaboration. The agreement covered possible areas of collaboration in teaching and learning, student exchanges, research, and joint events.
“Patrick Awuah is an education innovator helping usher in an innovative future in Africa,” shared Jea Moon. “I wish Patrick and the entire Ashesi community health and happiness.”
In accepting the honorary doctorate, President Awuah expressed his gratitude and reiterated his belief in the critical role of education in unlocking Africa’s potential. “Like Sun Moon University, we believe that the work of nation-building starts with education,” Awuah said. “May we continue to work together to build a more peaceful, ethical, hopeful world.”
April 11, 2025 – In recognition of his work in higher education in Africa, Ashesi President Patrick Awuah was named one of three 2025 Sunhak Peace Prize laureates during a ceremony held in Seoul, South Korea. Established in 2014, the Prize celebrates individuals and organizations significantly contributing to peace and human development. Other recipients were co-founder of Global Citizen Hugh Evans, and Chairperson of the Green Belt Movement Wanjira Maathai. The Sunhak Peace Prize’s Founder’s Award was also awarded to the former President of Nigeria H.E. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, and Founder of the Revelation Spiritual Home Dr. uZwi-Lezwe Radebe during the same event.
“These laureates did not merely observe history—they actively participated, demonstrating the transformative power of courage, compassion, and moral conviction,” shared Dr. Thomas Walsh, Co-Chairman of the Sunhak Prize Committee. “These laureates are not bystanders in the arena of history. Their life stories are testimonies to what is possible when conviction, compassion, and conscience converge—and give rise to action.”
Awuah’s award is in recognition of Ashesi’s pioneering multidisciplinary curriculum, which combines teaching values-based leadership with advanced technical skill, with graduates given tools to significantly address structural issues such as poverty and corruption in Africa. The award also recognised Ashesi’s commitment to collaboration and enabling stronger education outcomes for students on the continent.
“What Korea’s history, Ashesi’s experience, and the spirit of the Sunhak Peace Prize all teach us: is that investing in youth, education, and leadership, creates a ripple effect—benefiting not just one country or region, but our entire global community,” shared Awuah in his acceptance speech. “Thank you for this award. I will hold it dear, and I accept it on behalf of the African youth whose potential shines a light for the work we do.”
Speakers at the event included Ban Ki-moon, the 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations, and H.E. Macky Sall, Former President of Senegal, both previous recipients of the Prize.
“On its 10th anniversary, the Sunhak Peace Prize continues to spotlight the vital contributions of unsung heroes to global peace and solidarity,” said Ban Ki-moon. “I deeply commend the laureates for their inspiring dedication and extend heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon for her visionary leadership and unwavering support of global peace efforts.”
“In these challenging times, honoring those who strive for peace, development and human beings’ dignity is more than a symbolic act,” added H.E Sall. “It is a moral imperative. This prize not only recognizes the achievement of the laureates but also serves as encouragement for all of us to continue this work.”
The Sunhak Peace Prize was founded by Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, the wife of the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon. It was established to help resolve worldwide suffering, conflict, poverty and threats to the environment by promoting a comprehensive, future-oriented vision of peace. The Sunhak Peace Prize encourages all people to dedicate themselves to achieving a peaceful world by resolving to exercise dialogue and cooperation over conflict and competition. The award ceremony for the Sunhak Peace Prize is held biennially in Seoul, Korea.
The Selection Committee for the Prize is made up of:
José Manuel Barroso, Committee Chair, Non-Executive Chairman of Goldman Sachs International, Former President of the European Commission, and Former Prime Minister of Portugal
Charles S. Yang, Chair of the Universal Peace Federation(UPF) International, and the Sunhak Peace Prize Foundation
Thomas G. Walsh, Co-Chair of the Coalition of Faith-Based Organization, Member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Bridgeport in the U.S.A, and President of HJ International Graduate School for Peace
Yeon Ah Moon, Chairman of the Sunhak Educational Foundation, Chairman of the HJ World Peace Foundation, and Former President of the Women’s Federation for World Peace
Newt Gingrich, Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Former House Republican Deputy Leader, and Former Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
Dan Burton, Co-Chair of IAPP (International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace), Former Chairman of the S. House Oversight Committee, Former Chairman of the Republican Study Committee, and Former Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
Thomas P. McDevitt, Chairman of The Washington Times, Chairman of HJ Magnolia US Holdings, and Global Coordinator of IMAP (International Media Association for Peace) and IAED (International Association for peace and Economic Development)
Distinguished Members of the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee, Your Excellencies, Your Eminences, Fellow Laureates, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen:
I am honoured to accept this award on behalf of the Ashesi University community, and on behalf of the African youth in whom Africa’s future rests.
I would also like to congratulate the people of South Korea for the economic miracle that you have created, from the 1950s when Korea was a developing country, to the economic powerhouse we see today. In the 1980s, when I was in college, one of my Economics professors described to us the work he did here in the 60s, assisting with Korea’s economic policy. He impressed upon us that the economic transformation of countries such as Korea, was not only a story about the road to prosperity in those countries. Your success in Korea has played a role in the current and future wellbeing of Asians everywhere in the world.
When my first child was born in the 1990s, those discussions about the economic transformation of Korea, and what it meant for the dignity of Asians, became more present in my mind. At the time, Africa was experiencing major challenges—many still present today—and I worried about what that meant, not only for my children, but for all African children around the world. I wondered how they would see themselves in a world where the continent was presented as a place of unfulfilled promise? And I began to feel a sense of urgency to be part of changing circumstances in Africa, and by extension the dignity of my children, for the better.
And so, in my mid-thirties, I left my career in the US to return to Ghana. My wife, Rebecca, who I could not have done this without, and a few friends and colleagues, agreed to go on this journey with me. In 2002, we established Ashesi University, a non-profit with a bold vision: to educate ethical entrepreneurial leaders who will drive innovation, growth and prosperity across Africa. Ashesi has now become recognised as one of the most forward-thinking higher education institutions in Africa. Our graduates, who are building and contributing to meaningful innovation and solutions, are considered as some of the best minds on the continent. The University is ranked among Africa’s top ten most impactful; and our community continues to thoughtfully engage in work that advances the flourishing of the continent we call home. Our journey, too, is about the future wellbeing of a people.
As I reflect on the vision of Sunhak Peace Prize, let me share three stories from the students I have worked with, that demonstrate what we can accomplish when we work together and take the time to guide and listen to the next generation.
The first story is about a time when students from Ashesi were recruited by an international NGO to assist with conflict mediation at a refugee camp in Ghana. At the time, Ghana hosted refugees who had fled a civil war in Liberia. It turned out that some of the inhabitants of the camp were former combatants who had carried their disagreements with them to Ghana. Our students quickly learned that mediation was difficult. They did not have training in conflict resolution, and the animosity between the parties seemed intractable. What would you do in this situation?
As they pondered what to do, the students noticed that many of the parties involved in this conflict were also engaged in micro enterprise and needed help managing those businesses and sustaining their livelihoods. So, they decided to run business management workshops. And they noticed something interesting. People who were once in conflict now sat next to each other learning how to run their businesses more effectively. During the workshops, conflict was put aside, and the attendees focused their attention on something positive. Everyone benefited, and conflict declined.
The second story is about the period from mid-2006 through the end of 2007 when students of Ashesi University engaged in an intense debate about ownership of a culture of integrity on our campus—a debate that culminated in a decision to adopt an honour system on campus. Under this system, a first in Africa at the time, students pledged to hold themselves individually and collectively responsible for ethical behaviour. Our faculty no longer invigilate exams, and students themselves hold each other accountable to mitigate cheating. All our first-year classes since 2008 are required to debate this matter and to decide by a 2/3rd majority or greater whether they want to adopt the honour code. Thanks to the culture of integrity and discipline that this system has fostered, Ashesi’s graduates are now considered among some of the most trustworthy by organizations that recruit and work with them.
The third story is of a young man who learned about Ashesi University when our students volunteered as teachers in his rural community in Northern Ghana. With encouragement from the students, he applied to our institution and was accepted to attend with a full scholarship. Before he came to Ashesi, he had never used a computer. Yet, four years later, he graduated with a major in Computer Science; and for his final year research project, he designed and built a machine learning algorithm to diagnose malaria in blood with near-perfect accuracy. His goal was to help doctors in communities like his, with limited resources, better diagnose and treat malaria. This year, that student earned a PhD in Computer Science at Dartmouth College and is now pursuing his life passion to develop technology that improves lives and livelihoods in Africa’s most vulnerable regions.
There are key lessons I carry with me from these stories.
One, that there is power in shared purpose. Too often, we focus our minds and efforts on the things that separate us. But when we choose to instead focus on the common pursuits that bind us, we make more progress.
Second, I have come to learn that once people discover purpose, they are able to act more heroically and achieve breakthroughs that might have once felt unattainable, or improbable.
Third, and perhaps most importantly, I have come to better understand the power of giving people the tools and resources to build and create, and how it enables human dignity.
Each of the three stories I brought here today is about the importance of work that elevates the human spirit, about patience, persistence, and courage. But also, each story is about the opportunity that lies in helping young people understand the true meaning of good leadership, which is to live in the service of others.
I turned sixty a week ago, and my colleagues at Ashesi University came together to join me in celebration. Listening to the many reflections of students, alumni, board members, and my colleagues about what Ashesi meant to them, I felt such a wonderful sense of peace, accomplishment, and gratitude to have spent the last two and a half decades on this path. I feel a close bond with all those who have come together to build a university that will enable dignity for hundreds of thousands of young Africans in years to come. If I could go back to my mid-thirties, I would make the same choice.
What Korea’s history, Ashesi’s experience, and the spirit of the Sunhak Peace Prize all teach us is that investing in youth, education, and leadership, creates a ripple effect—benefiting not just one country or region, but our entire global community.
To Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, and all of you here today, thank you for your work to promote global peace and wellbeing. The work before us is enormous, and it will take patience, persistence and courage to succeed. Every step forward reminds us of how much further we still have to go, but also of how achievable our goals are.
As Reverend Sun Myung Moon put it, “The way for us to live is to rely on each other’s love. We must give until all our selfishness disappears. That is where peace will come from.”
Thank you once again for this award. I will hold it dear, and I accept it on behalf of the African youth whose potential shines a light for us.
Christmas on the Hill A festive end-of-year celebration featuring activities, music, and community bonding. This event brings together students, faculty, and staff to share in the holiday spirit before the break.
“Patrick Awuah is an education innovator helping usher in an innovative future in Africa,” shared Jea Moon. “I wish Patrick and the entire Ashesi community health and happiness.”
The Sunhak Peace Prize was founded by Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, the wife of the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon. It was established to help resolve worldwide suffering, conflict, poverty and threats to the environment by promoting a comprehensive, future-oriented vision of peace. The Sunhak Peace Prize encourages all people to dedicate themselves to achieving a peaceful world by resolving to exercise dialogue and cooperation over conflict and competition. The award ceremony for the Sunhak Peace Prize is held biennially in Seoul, Korea.