Mahama Hails Julius Debrah as Chief of Staff Bags PhD in Museum & Heritage Studies

Chief of Staff Julius Debrah has earned a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Museum and Heritage Studies from the University of Ghana, marking a major academic milestone alongside his high‑pressure public service portfolio.

Dr. Debrah was conferred the degree during the School of Graduate Studies congregation at the Great Hall on Saturday, July 25, 2026, with President John Dramani Mahama attending as the special guest for the PhD graduation ceremony.

President Mahama congratulated his Chief of Staff for completing the rigorous programme while serving in one of the nation’s most demanding offices.

“I’m especially delighted to see my Chief of Staff among today’s graduating class,” he said, praising the cohort for their academic excellence.

The President recounted how, during the 2024 campaign, Dr. Debrah frequently broke away from political activities to meet supervisors or conduct fieldwork for his doctoral research.

“We used to be on the campaign trail together, and he would run away and leave us and say, ‘Oh, I have to meet my supervisor,’” Mahama joked.

He also narrated a humorous incident from one of Dr. Debrah’s archaeological field trips in Northern Ghana, where villagers mistook the research team for illegal miners.

“They were digging somewhere in Nakpanduri, and suddenly the chiefs and the villagers came out and confronted them. They thought they were doing galamsey,” he said, drawing laughter from the audience.

Mahama described the achievement as a powerful testament to discipline, perseverance and lifelong learning.

“His achievement is a reminder that learning is a lifelong pursuit and that public service and academic excellence are mutually reinforcing,” he noted.

In a light-hearted tease, the President said Dr. Debrah’s new academic credentials might raise the bar for future conversations.

“I suspect he may now begin reminding me that every argument requires stronger evidence and that every quotation deserves a proper citation,” he quipped.

Mahama admitted that the ceremony briefly tempted him to consider pursuing a PhD himself.

“Looking around this distinguished gathering, I briefly entertained the thought of returning to pursue my own PhD. But memories of supervisors, endless revisions and the viva voce examinations quickly brought me back to reality,” he said.

He reaffirmed government’s commitment to strengthening higher education, research and innovation as pillars of national development.

“Our responsibility as government is to create an environment in which talent can flourish. We will continue investing in higher education, research, innovation and digital infrastructure,” he said.

Before becoming Chief of Staff, Dr. Debrah served as Minister for Local Government and Rural Development (2014–2015) and as Regional Minister for both the Eastern and Greater Accra Regions (2013–2014).

His PhD adds to a distinguished public service career spanning local governance, regional administration and the Presidency.

— CitiNewsRoom