By Daniel Bampoe
Chief of Staff Julius Debrah and several prominent Ghanaian personalities have been celebrated following their latest academic achievements, as members of the Class of 2026 mark the completion of another significant chapter in their educational journeys.
Among those named in congratulatory messages are Dr. Julius Debrah, Dr. Kate Addo, Suzet Abena Assan, Eric Nana Agyemang-Prempeh, Okatakyie Afrifa-Mensah and former Member of Parliament for Tema East, Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover
Debrah was conferred with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Museum and Heritage Studies by the University of Ghana.
Dr Debrah, a seasoned politician and public administrator, is the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President.
President John Mahama commended him for his dedication to his duty.
Debrah has held several key public offices, including Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Greater Accra Regional Minister, Eastern Regional Minister and Chief Executive of the Ghana Tourism Authority which might have informed his research area.
The graduation of the Class of 2026 has attracted congratulations from friends, associates and well-wishers, with the occasion also triggering reflections about perseverance, sacrifice and the difficulties many people encounter while pursuing higher education alongside demanding professional and family responsibilities.
One particularly emotional congratulatory message came from Mame Afia Akoto, a former deputy CEO of MASLOC who used the occasion to recount how she had previously been mocked on social media whenever she celebrated the academic achievements of other people.
According to her, the ridicule came from individuals associated with both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), some of whom apparently interpreted her congratulatory posts as opportunities to question her own academic progress.
She said what particularly hurt was that many of those comments came from women who knew little about her personal journey or the challenges she had confronted as a single mother.
Rather than allowing the attacks to discourage her, she said she had learned to deal privately with difficult moments before finding the strength to continue pursuing her ambitions.
She described herself as someone prepared to “cry in the privacy of my closet when necessary,” before wiping away the tears and confronting her challenges again.
According to her, the opinions and mockery of others have never been the defining features of her life, insisting instead that her journey has been sustained by faith, determination and the willingness to keep moving forward despite setbacks.
Against that background, she said the graduation of her friends represented an occasion for genuine celebration rather than envy.
“Until it is my turn, I will continue to clap wholeheartedly for those who have made it. Your victory reminds me that my own day is drawing closer,” she stated.
The message also contained a response to people she said had previously ridiculed her educational journey.
“And to those who once laughed and mocked me, there is nothing left to laugh about. Just watch me,” she declared, borrowing an expression associated with gospel musician Empress Gifty Adorye.
She expressed confidence that her own academic milestone would eventually arrive and said that when it does, it would demonstrate the importance of perseverance, faith and resilience.
“My day is coming too, and when it arrives, it will be a testimony that perseverance, faith, and resilience always have the final word,” she added.
Among the personalities she singled out was Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, a longstanding figure in the National Democratic Congress and one of President John Dramani Mahama’s closest political associates.
Debrah has occupied several senior positions in public service over the years. During President Mahama’s earlier administration, he served in ministerial positions before eventually becoming Chief of Staff.
Following President Mahama’s return to office in January 2025, Debrah again assumed the influential position of Chief of Staff, placing him at the centre of the administration’s coordination and management.
Also celebrated was Kate Addo, Director of Public Affairs of Parliament of Ghana, who was referred to in the congratulatory message as Dr. Kate Addo, alongside Suzet Abena Assan and Eric Nana Agyemang-Prempeh, former NADMO Director General and MP.
Media personality and political commentator Okatakyie Afrifa-Mensah was similarly named among the graduates being celebrated.
Afrifa-Mensah has become widely known through his media and political commentary and has frequently attracted public attention over his outspoken views on national and political issues.
Former Tema East Member of Parliament Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover is a longstanding member of the New Patriotic Party who previously served as Deputy Minister of Transport and has remained active in Ghanaian politics and public affairs.
