John Dramani Mahama is a Ghanaian politician who served as the President of Ghana from July 24, 2012, to January 7, 2017. Prior to his presidency, Mahama held various government positions, including Vice President of Ghana under former president John Atta Mills. Mahama was born on November 29, 1958, in Damongo, in the Northern Region of Ghana.
He attended Achimota School for his secondary education and later studied at the University of Ghana, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History in 1981. Mahama furthered his education abroad, obtaining a postgraduate diploma in Communication Studies from the Institute of Social Sciences in Moscow, Russia.
Before entering politics, John Dramani Mahama worked as an Information Officer at the Embassy of Japan in Moscow. He later served as the Director of Communications for the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and also worked as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Bole-Bamboi constituency. Mahama’s political career began in the early 1990s when he was first elected to parliament.
He held various ministerial positions, including Minister of Communications, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Minister of National Planning. In 2008, Mahama was selected as the running mate for presidential candidate John Atta Mills, and they won the presidential election, with Mahama serving as Vice President from 2009 to 2012.
Following the death of President John Atta Mills in July 2012, Mahama succeeded him as President of Ghana. He completed the remainder of Mills’ term and later won the 2012 presidential election, serving as president until 2017.
During his presidency, Mahama focused on infrastructure development, education, and healthcare. He launched initiatives such as the “Better Ghana Agenda” and the “Free Senior High School” program aimed at expanding access to education. In the 2016 presidential election, John Dramani Mahama sought re-election but was defeated by Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
After leaving office, Mahama remained active in Ghanaian politics and was re-elected as the presidential candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2020 elections. However, he lost to Nana Akufo-Addo for the second time.
Mahama is regarded as a charismatic and influential figure in Ghanaian politics. His presidency was marked by efforts to improve infrastructure, expand social services, and promote economic development.
He continues to be a prominent figure in Ghanaian politics and remains active in advocating for democracy, good governance, and social justice. John Dramani Mahama’s political career spans several decades, and his contributions to Ghana’s development and democracy have left a lasting impact on the country.
photo credit: Johnmahama.org
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