John Dramani Mahama

John Dramani Mahama is a Ghanaian politician who has had a remarkable career. Born on November 29, 1958, in Damongo, Ghana, Mahama's entry into politics was influenced by his father, Emmanuel Adama Mahama, who was a Member of Parliament and a regional commissioner in the government of Ghana's first president, Kwame Nkrumah .

Mahama's educational background is impressive. He attended Achimota School in Accra and later graduated from the University of Ghana, Legon, with a Bachelor's degree in History in 1981. He also pursued postgraduate studies in Communication at the University of Ghana and later earned a postgraduate degree in Social Psychology from the Institute of Social Sciences in Moscow .

Mahama's political career began in 1996 when he was elected to Parliament under the banner of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). He held several posts, including Minister of Communications, before being chosen as the vice-presidential candidate on the NDC ticket in 2008 .

After the unexpected death of President John Evans Atta Mills in 2012, Mahama was elevated to the presidency. He won the December 2012 presidential election with 50.7% of the vote and was inaugurated on January 7, 2013 .

Mahama's presidency was marked by several accomplishments, including infrastructure projects in transportation, health, and education. However, his administration also faced challenges, including economic woes, power shortages, and corruption scandals .

After losing the 2016 presidential election to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Mahama remained active in politics. He was selected as the NDC's presidential candidate for the 2020 election but lost to Akufo-Addo again. Mahama is currently the NDC's presidential candidate for the 2024 election.