Personal Life
1958
On a more personal note, JM, as he is colloquially called, is a Christian, born and raised a Presbyterian but now a member of Assemblies of God, living in a multi-faith family consisting of Christians and Muslims; he loves afrobeat music, is a passionate reader and a consummate writer, and has a vivid interest in farming, information and communication technology, and environmental issues.
His book, “My First Coup d’État and Other True Stories From the Lost Decades of Africa”, published in July 2012, has won international praise for describing a world of love, fear, faith, despair, loss, longing, and hope despite all else.
Because bringing hope despite all else is JM’s unique way to bring out the best in all the people, and especially in all Ghanaian people, which he so passionately serves.
Political Career
1996
1996 marks the year of John Dramani Mahama’s entering into politics. He joined the National Democratic Congress and, being an eloquent champion of the underprivileged, he was elected to the Parliament of Ghana to represent the Bole/Bamboi Constituency for a four-year term. He was re-elected in 2000 and in 2004.
2001
During this time, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Communications in 1997, full Minister of Communications from 1998 until 2001, Minority Parliamentary Spokesman for Communications from 2001 until 2005, and Minority Parliamentary Spokesman for Foreign Affairs from 2005 until 2008.
While being Minister of Communications, John Dramani Mahama also served as the Chairman of the National Communications Authority, and played a key role in stabilising Ghana’s telecom sector.
2009
On 7 January 2009, John Dramani Mahama became the Vice-President of Ghana, remaining in the post until President John Atta Mills’ untimely death on 24 July 2012, when, in line with Ghana’s Constitution, he became President of the Republic.
He also served as a member of the Pan African Parliament based in Pretoria, South Africa from 2004 to 2011, where he was Chairman of the West Africa Caucus.
2012
In December 2012, he was elected President of Ghana for a four-year term. He thus made political history by becoming the first Ghanaian head of state to have been born after Ghana’s declaration of independence on 6 March 1957.
During his entire life and throughout his political career, President John Dramani Mahama was a champion of the underprivileged, fighting for them against all sorts of bullies; a unifier, moving above tribal politics; a strong supporter of public education for all; and a visionary, seeking to transform Ghana in fundamental ways.
Continuing his legacy as one of the front-runners of a prosperous and modern Ghana, John Dramani Mahama is now running for a second term for the Presidency of Ghana. While many new projects have been implemented since his last election, John Dramani Mahama vows to continue his reforms if elected, reforms that will touch some of the most important issues Ghana is facing at the moment: development of the infrastructure across the country, creation of jobs for the young graduates, affordable housing projects, improvement of quality in the educational system.
Early Career
1995
After completing his education abroad, John Dramani Mahama became Officer of Information, Culture and Research at the Japanese Embassy in Accra until 1995. From there he moved to the anti-poverty non-governmental organization PLAN International’s Ghana Country Office, where he worked as International Relations, Sponsorship Communications and Grants Manager between 1995 and 1996.
Early Life And Education
1958
He was born on 29th November 1958 in Damongo, capital of West Gonja district, in a political family. His father, Emmanuel Adama Mahama, was a Member of Parliament from the West Gonja constituency and the first Regional Commissioner of the Northern Region during Ghana’s First Republic. John Dramani Mahama spent the first years of his life with his mother, Abiba Nnaba, in the Northern Region, and then he moved to Accra to live with his father, who imbued him with a strong passion for education. He received his elementary education at ‘Achimota School’, where he began defending other children from bullies, and later attended the ‘Ghana Secondary School’ in Tamale.
1981
He moved on to become a student at the University of Ghana, in Legon, receiving a bachelor’s degree in history in 1981. He furthered his education by embarking on Post Graduate Studies in Communication also at the University of Ghana, in the School of Communication Studies, which he completed in 1986. His thirst for knowledge took him to Moscow, Russia for a Post Graduate Diploma in Social Psychology from the Institute of Social Sciences.
1983
After receiving his BA, John Dramani Mahama moved back to Tamale, where he taught history at ‘Ghana Secondary School’. However, the political and economic situation in Ghana forced him to flee to Nigeria, where he rejoined his father. In 1983 he came back, with a strong desire to build bridges between people through communication, so he enrolled in a post-graduate program in communication studies at the University of Ghana, which he graduated in 1986. He then went to Moscow, in the former Soviet Union, at the Institute of Social Sciences, where he received a post-graduate degree in social psychology in 1988. While in Moscow, he grew more and more disillusioned with socialism, realizing that Ghana has to find its own transformative way, away from ideological dogmas.
His Achievements as President of Ghana (2012-2016)
EDUCATIONAL SECTOR:
123 COMMUNITY SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS PROJECT
S/N REGION DISTRICT LOCATION
1 Ashanti Obuasi Municipal Kwanenakwa
2 Ashanti Adansi North Fumso
3 Ashanti Bosomtwe Oyoko
4 Ashanti Sekyere Afram Plains Drobonso
5 Ashanti Adansi South Adansi Apagya
6 Ashanti Atwima Mponua Adobewora
7 Brong Ahafo Tano South Derma
8 Brong Ahafo Pru Abease
9 Brong Ahafo Banda Banda Ahenkro
10 Brong Ahafo Kintampo South Anyima
11 Brong Ahafo Techiman North Krobo
12 Brong Ahafo Dormaa Municipal Danyame
13 Brong Ahafo Asunafo North Kasapin
14 Central Gomoa East Gomoa Gyaman
15 Central Agona East Agona Duakwa
16 Central KEEA Ntranoa
17 Central Awutu Senya Awutu Bawjiase
18 Central Upper Denkyira West Diaso
19 Central Upper Denkyira East Kyekyewere
20 Central Agona West Agona Abodom
21 Central Ekumfi Otuam
22 Eastern Upper West Akim Nyanoa
23 Eastern Denkyembour Takrowasi
24 Eastern Kwahu West Fodoa Nkwakaw
25 Eastern Lower Manya Oborpah
26 Eastern Afram Plains(Kwahu North) Mem-Chemfre
27 G. Accra Ashiaman Michel Camp Community 22
28 Northern Bunkpurugu Yunyoo Bunkpurugu Namong
29 Northern Kpandai Jambuai
30 Northern Bole Bamboi
31 Northern Saboba Wapuli
32 Northern Nanumba South Nakpayili
33 Upper East Bawku West Sapeliga
34 Upper East Talensi Yamiriga
35 Upper East Builsa South Kanjarga-Jiningsa
36 Upper East Kassena-Nankana West Paga Navio
37 Upper West Lambussie Lambussie
38 Upper West Wa West Dorimon
39 Upper West Sissala West Zini
40 Volta Krachi Ntsumuru Chinderi
41 Volta Akatsi South Avenorpeme
42 Volta Nkwanta North Damanko
43 Volta Nkwanta South Nkwanta
44 Volta North Tongu Volo
45 Volta Biakoye Kwamekrom Abornukope
46 Western Nzema East Bamiankor
47 Western Ahanta West Sankor
48 Western Amenfi West Samreboi
49 Western Bibiani Anwhiaso Bekwai Chirano
50 Western Sefwi Wiawso Sefwi Asafo
51 Ashanti Ejura Sekyedumase Ejura
52 Ashanti Ahafo Ano North Manfo
53 Ashanti Asokore Manpong Parkuso
54 Ashanti Asante Akim South Banka
55 Brong Ahafo Nkronza South Donkro-Nkwanta
56 Brong Ahafo Dormaa West Nkwantaso
57 Brong Ahafo Techiman Muncipal Gyarko Techiman
58 Brong Ahafo Jaman North Duadaso No. II
59 Brong Ahafo Jaman South Adamsu
60 Brong Ahafo Wenchi Municipal Buoku
61 Central Mfantsiman Kobina Ansa
62 Central Efutu Attietu
63 Central Ejumako Enyan Essiam Enyanmaim
64 Central Twifo Heman Lower Denkyira Twifo Hemang
65 Eastern Birim North Nyafoman /Amuna Praso
66 Eastern West Akyem Osenase
67 Eastern Atiwa Abomoso
68 Eastern Upper Manya Krobo Sekesua
69 Eastern Yilo Krobo Apersua
70 Eastern Kwaebibrem Akyim Takyiman
71 G. Accra Ledzokuku krowor North West Teshie-Lekma
72 G. Accra Tema Metro Lashibi
73 G. Accra Ada East Kasseh-Ada
74 G. Accra Ada West Koluedor
75 G. Accra Weija Municipal (Ga South) Obom
76 G. Accra Ga West Ga-Odumase
77 Northern Nanumba North Bincheratanga
78 Northern West Mamprusi Nasia
79 Northern East Gonja Salaga Kpalbe
80 Northern Yendi Municipal Wal-Yapala
81 Northern Zabzugu Sabare
82 Northern East Mamprusi Langbinsi
83 Upper East Garu Tempane Salugu
84 Upper East Builsa North Wiaga
85 Upper East Bolga East (Bolgatanga) Gambigo
86 Upper East Nabdam (Tongo) Nangodi-Sakote Junction
87 Upper East Bongo Azeem-Namoo
88 Upper West Lawra Boo
89 Upper West Jirapa Konzokala
90 Upper West Sissala East Wellembelle
91 Upper West Nadowli Kaleo Naro
92 Volta Krachi West Osramanae
93 Volta Agotime-Ziope Ziope
94 Volta Ketu South Agblekpui-Aflao
95 Volta South Tongu Agave Afedume
96 Western Bodi Amoaya
97 Western Juaboso Asempaneye-Breman
98 Western Tarkwa Nsuem Muncipal Nsuem
99 Western Prestea Huni Valley Aboso
100 Western Sekondi Takoradi Assakae
101 Ashanti Kumasi Metropolis Agric Nzema
102 Ashanti Offinso North Asuoso
103 Ashanti Ahafo Ano South Adugyama
104 Brong Ahafo Sene East Bassa
105 Brong Ahafo Kintampo North Municipal New longoro
106 Brong Ahafo Atebubu Amantin New Konkrompe
107 Central Awutu Senya East Municipal Ofaakor-Kasoa
108 Eastern Kwahu Afram Plains South Maame Krobo
109 Eastern Ayensuano Aneum-Apapam
110 Greater Accra Kpone Katamanso Katamanso
111 Greater Accra Adenta Municipal Frafraha
112 Greater Accra Ga East Municipal Kwabenya
113 Northern Mion Sang
114 Northern North Gonja Daboya
115 Northern Gonja Central Mpaha
116 Upper East Pusiga Tambilgu
117 Upper East Binduri Zulugu
118 Upper West Wa East Logu
119 Volta Adaklu Abuadi &Tsrefe
120 Volta Krachi East Yawbram
121 Western Wassa Amenfi Central Manso
122 Western Bia East Adabokrom
123 Western Sefwi Akontombra Nsawora Edumafua