President John Dramani Mahama has highlighted that his younger brother, Ibrahim Mahama, achieved success through hard work and enterprise, not political influence, as he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT).

The event was the 18th Special Congregation of UMaT in Tarkwa on Saturday, January 31, 2026.

Addressing public perceptions, the president noted that Ibrahim Mahama had often faced stricter scrutiny whenever he was in office and that Ibrahim's company, Engineers & Planners, had grown most significantly during periods when he was not president, highlighting its resilience and independence.

President Mahama reflected on his brother’s early fascination with machines, recalling that as a child he was always curious about how things worked. This passion continued while the family lived in England, where Ibrahim Mahama further developed his interest in engineering and heavy-duty machinery.

He went on to establish Engineers & Planners, a mining services company that began with subcontracting work, including engagements with African Mining Services, and grew to become one of the largest mining subcontracting companies in West Africa.

Mahama reflected on their family background, noting that while their late father combined politics and entrepreneurship, the two brothers followed different paths.

“I took the political path, and my brother took the entrepreneurial path,” he said, adding humorously that while he could speak, his brother could “do many things better,” acknowledging the impact of enterprise in national development.

The president also praised Ibrahim’s commitment to philanthropy, indigenous ownership, and his role in paving the way for Ghanaian companies to secure direct contracts in the mining sector.

President Mahama acknowledged the role of mentors in this journey, singling out Mr Sam Jonah for his guidance and support, and praised Ibrahim Mahama for building what has become one of the largest mining subcontracting companies in West Africa, and possibly on the African continent.

Turning to UMaT graduates, President Mahama urged them to view education as both a privilege and a responsibility, encouraging innovation, discipline, and service to national development.

Read: Mahama praises Ibrahim’s role in advancing indigenous mining firms as UMaT confers honorary doctorate