Awards and Recognition

•McNulty Prize for Young Leaders, Finalist. (2008) 

The John P. McNulty prize seeks to inspire young people from around the world to make a real difference in their communities by recognizing the very best in high impact leadership. The award is meant to celebrate the spirit and memory of the Aspen Institute's trustee, John P. McNulty and is given annually to an Aspen Global Leadership Network (AGLN) Fellow.

•EDUCATING AFRICA Africa Pan African Award for Entrepreneurship in Education, Ghana Country Prize. (2008)

The Educating Africa Pan African Award for Entrepreneurship in Education seeks to identify and celebrate the achievements of social entrepreneurs who understand the role education can play within their communities in creating positive social change. Prize winners were selected from a large pool of applicants from across Africa. 

The award was sponsored by Teach A Man to Fish, an international non-profit organization and Educating Africa, a foundation that is committed to supporting sustainable cost effective education initiatives that empower students and the communities they represent

•TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) Conference, Fellow. (2008)

The TED Fellows program helps world-changing innovators from around the globe become part of the TED community and, with its help, amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities. Fellows are drawn from many disciplines that reflect the diversity of TED's members: technology, entertainment, design, the sciences, the humanities, the arts, NGOs, business and more.

•World Economic Forum, Young Global Leader. (2007)

Ashesi Founder, Patrick Awuah, was among 250 people around the world nominated Global Leaders 2007. This award by the World Economic Forum recognizes the unique contributions and potential of individuals drawn from a pool of 4,000 leaders around the world.

Each year, the World Economic Forum honours leaders from business, government, media, and non-profit organizations by recognizing and acknowledging their work. About 200 to 300 outstanding young leaders from around the world are identified and recognized for their professional accomplishments, commitment to society and potential to contribute to shaping the future of the world.

•President of Ghana, Order of the Volta. (2007)

In 2007, the President of Ghana, John Agyekum Kufuor presented Patrick Awuah with the Order of the Volta Award in recognition of his efforts in improving tertiary education in Ghana. This award is amongst one of the highest in the land.

•Swarthmore College, Honorary Doctorate. (2004)

Swarthmore College President Alfred H. Bloom awarded Ashesi Founder, Patrick Awuah, an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in recognition of his work to promote liberal arts education in Ghana. The presentation was made during Swarthmore's commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 30th.  Mr. Awuah was asked to speak during the ceremony to Swarthmore's graduating class of 2004.

Mr. Awuah graduated from Swarthmore College in 1989 with degrees in Economics and Engineering. Mr. Awuah credits the education he received at Swarthmore college as a model for the curriculum he helped develop at Ashesi University.