UCC has announced Kwesi Pratt Jnr. as speaker for the 15th Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Lecture on September 17-18, 2026, with an honorary doctorate.
Article Information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Article Type | Education News / University Event |
| Topic | 15th Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Lecture |
| Institution | University of Cape Coast |
| Speaker | Kwesi Pratt Jnr. |
| Published | 31 August 2026 |
| Event Dates | 17-18 September 2026 |
| Venue | SGS Auditorium, UCC |
| Author | Ferdinand Ellis |
| Fact-Check Status | Based on official UCC announcement |
| Primary Source | Directorate of Public Affairs, UCC |
Fact Check & Editorial Review
Verification Status: Verified against the announcement supplied from the Directorate of Public Affairs, University of Cape Coast.
Primary Source: Directorate of Public Affairs, University of Cape Coast.
Event: 15th Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Lecture.
Speaker: Kwesi Pratt Jnr.
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Letters, honoris causa.
Last Reviewed: 31 August 2026.
Editorial Note: Readers should confirm any subsequent changes to the programme, venue, livestream arrangements or ceremony schedule through the University of Cape Coast’s official communication channels.
Key Takeaways
- Veteran journalist and Managing Editor of The Insight, Kwesi Pratt Jnr., will deliver the 15th Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Lecture at the University of Cape Coast.
- The lecture will focus on constitutionalism, development and Pan-Africanism in relation to Kwame Nkrumah’s continuing legacy.
- The programme is scheduled for Thursday, 17 September and Friday, 18 September 2026.
- The first day’s programme is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m., while the second day’s programme begins at 10:00 a.m.
- The event will take place at the School of Graduate Studies Auditorium, UCC.
- UCC will also confer an honorary Doctor of Letters, honoris causa on Kwesi Pratt Jnr.
- The lecture will be open to the general public and livestreamed through UCC’s designated platforms.
In Brief
The University of Cape Coast has announced veteran journalist, publisher and Pan-Africanist Kwesi Pratt Jnr. as the speaker for the 15th Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Lecture. The two-day programme, scheduled for September 17 and 18, 2026, will examine Kwame Nkrumah’s ideas and legacy in relation to constitutionalism, development and Pan-Africanism. The university will also honour Mr. Pratt with an honorary Doctor of Letters degree during a special congregation on the second day.
Introduction
The University of Cape Coast (UCC) is set to host the 15th Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Lecture, with veteran Ghanaian journalist and Pan-Africanist Kwesi Pratt Jnr. selected as the keynote speaker.
The lecture will examine the continuing relevance of Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, through the themes of constitutionalism, development and Pan-Africanism.
The two-day programme will take place on Thursday, 17 September and Friday, 18 September 2026 at the School of Graduate Studies Auditorium at UCC.
The university will also use the occasion to confer an honorary Doctor of Letters degree on Kwesi Pratt Jnr. in recognition of his contribution to journalism and public life.
Table of Contents
- Kwesi Pratt Jnr. to Deliver the Memorial Lecture
- Theme of the 15th Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Lecture
- History of the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Lectures
- Date, Time and Venue
- UCC to Confer Honorary Doctorate on Kwesi Pratt Jnr.
- Public Participation and Livestream
- Why the Lecture Matters
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
Kwesi Pratt Jnr. to Deliver the Memorial Lecture
Kwesi Pratt Jnr., a veteran media practitioner and Managing Editor of The Insight, has been selected by the University of Cape Coast to deliver the 15th Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Lecture.
Mr. Pratt has worked in journalism and public communication for more than five decades. He is also known for his Pan-Africanist views and longstanding engagement with political, historical and development questions affecting Ghana and Africa.
His selection gives the 2026 lecture a strong connection to public discourse on Ghana’s political history, African development and the continuing debate over Nkrumah’s ideas.
➡ Related: [University of Cape Coast News and Updates]
➡ Also Read: [Education and Higher Education in Ghana]
Theme of the 15th Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Lecture
The theme for the lecture is:
“Kwame Nkrumah, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: Perspectives on Constitutionalism, Development and Pan-Africanism.”
The theme places Nkrumah’s political and intellectual legacy within three broad areas.
The first is constitutionalism, which concerns the organisation and exercise of political authority under constitutional arrangements.
The second is development, a subject closely associated with Nkrumah’s vision of Ghana’s economic transformation and Africa’s wider development.
The third is Pan-Africanism, which formed a central part of Nkrumah’s political thought and international outlook.
Kwesi Pratt Jnr.’s background in journalism, African political history and Pan-Africanist discourse is therefore directly relevant to the subject of the lecture.
➡ Related: [Education Policy and Governance in Ghana]
➡ Also Read: [Education Heritage Series: Ghana’s Educational History]
History of the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Lectures
The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Lecture series was instituted by the University of Cape Coast in 1974 and inaugurated in November 1976 by the university’s first Chancellor, Dr. Archie Casely Hayford, according to the Directorate of Public Affairs.
The series was established in memory of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President and a major figure in the history of African independence and Pan-Africanism.
The lectures have traditionally provided a platform for examining political, social and economic questions affecting Africa and the wider Black world.
Over the years, the series has brought together scholars, political leaders, diplomats, ministers and other prominent figures who have addressed issues connected to African development and Nkrumah’s intellectual legacy.
The 15th edition therefore forms part of a long-running UCC institutional tradition rather than being an isolated university event.
➡ Related: [Education Heritage Series]
➡ Also Read: [History of Education in Ghana]
Date, Time and Venue
The 15th Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Lecture will be held over two days.
| Programme | Date | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Thursday, 17 September 2026 | 2:00 p.m. | SGS Auditorium, UCC |
| Day 2 | Friday, 18 September 2026 | 10:00 a.m. | SGS Auditorium, UCC |
The second day’s programme will include the special congregation at which the honorary degree will be conferred on Kwesi Pratt Jnr.
Members of the public who intend to attend should check UCC’s official channels for any subsequent changes to the programme.
➡ Related: [University of Cape Coast Academic Updates]
➡ Also Read: [Universities in Ghana: Complete Guide]
UCC to Confer Honorary Doctorate on Kwesi Pratt Jnr.
A major part of the 2026 programme will be the conferment of an honorary Doctor of Letters, honoris causa on Kwesi Pratt Jnr.
The university is expected to reconstitute the assembly into a special congregation on the second day of the programme for the conferment.
The honorary degree recognises Mr. Pratt’s contribution to journalism, public communication and the wider media landscape.
The recognition also adds an academic dimension to the two-day event, bringing together a memorial lecture and an institutional honour within the same programme.
➡ Related: [Honorary Degrees and University Ceremonies in Ghana]
➡ Also Read: [University of Cape Coast: Programmes, Admissions and Academic Information]
Public Participation and Livestream
The organisers have indicated that the lecture is open to the general public.
Those unable to attend physically will also be able to follow the programme online through UCC’s Facebook page, TVUCC’s YouTube channel and the platforms of accredited partner media houses.
People planning to attend or follow the programme online should rely on official UCC communication for final livestream details.
➡ Related: [University of Cape Coast News]
➡ Also Read: [Higher Education News in Ghana]
Why the Lecture Matters
The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Lecture occupies a distinctive place within UCC’s public intellectual activities because it provides a recurring platform for examining questions about Ghana, Africa and the wider Black world.
The 2026 theme is especially relevant because it connects historical reflection with contemporary questions about constitutional governance, development and African unity.
The choice of a veteran journalist and Pan-Africanist also places the media and public communication within the discussion of Nkrumah’s legacy. Journalism has historically played an important role in shaping public understanding of political ideas, national development and international affairs.
For students, researchers and members of the public, the lecture should therefore provide an opportunity to engage with questions that extend beyond Nkrumah’s historical presidency to debates about Africa’s present and future.
➡ Related: [Education Policy Research in Ghana]
➡ Also Read: [EducateGhana Education Intelligence Research Series]
Frequently Asked Questions
Who will deliver the 15th Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Lecture?
Veteran Ghanaian journalist and Pan-Africanist Kwesi Pratt Jnr. will deliver the lecture.
What is the theme of the lecture?
The theme is “Kwame Nkrumah, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: Perspectives on Constitutionalism, Development and Pan-Africanism.”
When will the lecture take place?
The programme is scheduled for 17 and 18 September 2026.
Where will the lecture be held?
The event will take place at the School of Graduate Studies Auditorium, University of Cape Coast.
Will Kwesi Pratt Jnr. receive an honorary degree?
Yes. UCC will confer an honorary Doctor of Letters, honoris causa on him during a special congregation on the second day.
Is the lecture open to the public?
Yes. The lecture is open to the general public.
Will the event be livestreamed?
According to the announcement, the programme will be livestreamed through UCC’s Facebook page, TVUCC’s YouTube channel and the platforms of accredited partner media houses.
➡ Related: [University Admissions and University News in Ghana]
➡ Also Read: [Ghana Universities and Higher Education Guide]
Conclusion
The University of Cape Coast’s 15th Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Lecture will bring together a major Ghanaian media figure and one of the country’s longstanding university lecture traditions.
With Kwesi Pratt Jnr. scheduled to speak on constitutionalism, development and Pan-Africanism, the 2026 edition is expected to focus attention on the continuing relevance of Kwame Nkrumah’s ideas to Ghana and Africa.
The programme will also mark a significant personal recognition for Mr. Pratt, with UCC scheduled to confer an honorary Doctor of Letters degree on him during the second day of the event.
Readers who plan to attend should monitor official UCC communication for any changes to the programme, venue or livestream arrangements.
➡ Related: [University of Cape Coast News and Updates]
➡ Also Read: [Education Heritage Series]
About the Author
Ferdinand Ellis is an education researcher, curriculum specialist, lecturer, education policy analyst and founder and editor of EducateGhana.com. His work covers education policy, curriculum and pedagogy, teacher education, educational research and Ghana’s education system.
Sources
Primary Source: Directorate of Public Affairs, University of Cape Coast.
Institution: University of Cape Coast.
Editorial Note
EducateGhana.com will update this article if the University of Cape Coast issues new information concerning the lecture programme, venue, honorary degree ceremony or livestream arrangements.
Last Updated: 31 August 2026
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