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John Dramani Mahama

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John Dramani Mahama
John Dramani Mahama
source
NameJohn Dramani Mahama
CaptionMahama in 2023
OfficePresident of Ghana
Term start24 July 2012
Term end7 January 2017
VicepresidentKwesi Amissah-Arthur
PredecessorJohn Atta Mills
SuccessorNana Akufo-Addo
Office1Vice President of Ghana
Term start17 January 2009
Term end124 July 2012
President1John Atta Mills
Predecessor1Alhaji Aliu Mahama
Successor1Kwesi Amissah-Arthur
Birth date29 November 1958
Birth placeDamongo, Ghana
PartyNational Democratic Congress
SpouseLordina Mahama
Alma materUniversity of Ghana, Academy of Social Sciences
ProfessionHistorian, author, politician

John Dramani Mahama. He is a Ghanaian politician, historian, and author who served as the President of Ghana from 2012 to 2017, having previously been the Vice President of Ghana under President John Atta Mills. A member of the National Democratic Congress, his ascent to the presidency followed the untimely death of Mills. His tenure was marked by significant infrastructure projects and economic challenges, culminating in his defeat in the 2016 election to Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party.

Early life and education

John Dramani Mahama was born on 29 November 1958 in Damongo in the Savannah Region of Ghana. He is the son of Emmanuel Adama Mahama, a former Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister during the First Republic. He received his secondary education at the Ghana Secondary School in Tamale before attending the University of Ghana, Legon, where he earned a degree in history in 1981. He later studied at the Institute of Social Sciences in Moscow, obtaining a postgraduate diploma in social psychology in 1988, and completed a course in conflict resolution at the GIMPA.

Political career

Mahama began his political career working in the information services sector, including a role as the Information Officer at the Japanese Embassy in Accra. He was first elected to the Parliament of Ghana in 1996, representing the Bole-Bamboi constituency for the National Democratic Congress. He served as the Deputy Minister for Communications and later as the Minister for Communications from 1998 under President Jerry Rawlings. He was a member of the Pan-African Parliament from 2004 to 2009. In 2008, presidential candidate John Atta Mills selected him as his running mate, leading to his election as Vice President of Ghana in January 2009.

Presidency (2012–2017)

Mahama assumed the presidency on 24 July 2012 following the death of President John Atta Mills. He subsequently won the 2012 presidential election, defeating Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party. His administration, with Kwesi Amissah-Arthur as Vice President, launched numerous infrastructure projects, including the expansion of the Kotoka International Airport, new Community Day Senior High Schools, and major road networks. His tenure coincided with a severe energy crisis, known as "Dumsor," and significant economic challenges that led to an International Monetary Fund bailout program in 2015. He lost his re-election bid in the 2016 election to Akufo-Addo.

Post-presidency and 2024 election

Following his presidency, Mahama remained active in NDC politics and international diplomacy, serving as the African Union High Representative for Somalia. He secured the NDC's nomination to contest the 2020 presidential election but was again defeated by incumbent Nana Akufo-Addo. In 2023, he was elected as the NDC's flagbearer for the 2024 presidential election, positioning himself for a potential political comeback against the New Patriotic Party's candidate, Mahamudu Bawumia.

Personal life

Mahama is married to Lordina Mahama, a philanthropist who served as the First Lady of Ghana. The couple has seven children. He is a published author, having written the memoir My First Coup d'État and the book The Ghanaian Dream. He is a Christian and hails from the Gonja ethnic group in the Northern Region.

Awards and honors

Mahama has received several national and international recognitions. He was awarded the Order of the Star of Ghana, the nation's highest honor, in 2013. In 2014, he received the African Gender Award from the African Development Bank. He has also been honored with the Global Leadership Award from the Vital Voices Global Partnership and was named a United Nations Advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals.

Category:1958 births Category:Living people Category:Presidents of Ghana Category:National Democratic Congress (Ghana) politicians