His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, the newly elected President of Ghana, has had a remarkable life journey that spans over six decades. Born on November 29, 1958, in Damongo, Ghana, Mahama hails from the Gonja ethnic group in the Savanna Region.

Mahama’s educational background is impressive, having attended some of Ghana’s prestigious institutions. He began his primary education at the Accra Newtown Experimental School and later attended Achimota Primary School. For his secondary education, Mahama went to Ghana Secondary School in Tamale. He then proceeded to the University of Ghana, Legon, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history in 1981 and a postgraduate diploma in communication studies in 1986.

Mahama’s career in politics began in 1996 when he was elected as the Member of Parliament for the Bole/Bamboi Constituency. He served in this position for three consecutive terms until 2009. During his tenure as an MP, Mahama held various positions, including Deputy Minister of Communications and Minister of Communications.

In 2009, Mahama became the Vice President of Ghana, serving under President John Evans Atta Mills. After Mills’ sudden death in 2012, Mahama took over as President and served until 2017. He contested in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections but lost to Nana Akufo-Addo.

However, Mahama’s persistence paid off in the 2024 presidential election, where he emerged victorious, winning over 56% of the votes. His election marks a significant milestone in Ghana’s political history, and Mahama has pledged to “reset” the country’s economy, which has been facing challenges in recent years.