John Dramani Mahama

John Dramani Mahama is a Ghanaian politician serving as President of the Republic of Ghana as of August 22, 2026. A former member of Parliament and vice president, he first held the presidency from 2012 to 2017 and returned to office after winning Ghana's 2024 presidential election.

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About John Dramani Mahama

Profile information current to 2026-08-22.

Ghana · Politician · 3 affiliations

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Known for: Ghanaian national politics and public administration; Sustainable development advocacy; African trade policy
Country: Ghana

Politician

At a glance

Mahama has served as President of the Republic of Ghana since January 7, 2025.
His national political career has included service as a member of Parliament, communications minister, vice president and president.
He won Ghana's 2024 presidential election and was sworn in for a non-consecutive second term on January 7, 2025.
Mahama was a co-chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Advocates group when it was launched in January 2016.
As president in 2015, he chaired a meeting of the African Union High-Level African Trade Committee.

Background and education

Mahama was born on November 29, 1958, in Damongo, in present-day West Gonja District. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Ghana in 1981 and a postgraduate diploma in Communication Studies there in 1986. He subsequently received a postgraduate degree in social psychology from the Institute of Social Sciences in Moscow in 1988.

Parliamentary and executive career

Mahama represented Bole-Bamboi in Ghana's Parliament from 1997 to 2009. He served as Deputy Minister for Communications from 1997 to 1998 and became Minister for Communications in 1998. He was Vice President from January 2009 until July 24, 2012, when he assumed the presidency following the death of President John Evans Atta Mills. He then served an elected presidential term from January 7, 2013, to January 6, 2017.

Elections and return to the presidency

After losing his 2016 re-election bid to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Mahama returned as the National Democratic Congress candidate in the 2024 presidential election and won. He was sworn in on January 7, 2025, and the Presidency of Ghana describes him as the first Ghanaian president democratically elected to a non-consecutive second term. The Electoral Commission's January 10, 2025 updated declaration recorded 6,591,790 votes, or 56.42 percent, for Mahama from results in 275 of 276 constituencies; the reviewed evidence does not establish a later declaration covering all 276.

International public roles

Mahama's international public work has included sustainable development advocacy and African trade policy. He was a co-chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Advocates group at its launch in January 2016, and he chaired the African Union High-Level African Trade Committee meeting held on January 29, 2015.

Affiliations

The Presidency, Republic of Ghana President of the Republic of Ghana 2025-01-07–present
Parliament of Ghana Member of Parliament for Bole-Bamboi 1997–2009
National Democratic Congress Presidential candidate in Ghana's 2024 election 2024–2024

Timeline

1958-11-29 Born in Damongo, Ghana.
1981 Received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Ghana.
1997 Began service as Member of Parliament for Bole-Bamboi.
2009-01-07 Began service as Vice President of Ghana.
2012-07-24 Assumed the presidency following the death of President John Evans Atta Mills.
2016-01-21 Was launched as co-chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Advocates group.
2024-12-07 Won Ghana's 2024 presidential election as the National Democratic Congress candidate.
2025-01-07 Was sworn in as President of Ghana for a non-consecutive second term.

Additional verified details

Current context

John Dramani Mahama was serving as President of the Republic of Ghana. The Presidency of Ghana website identified him as President and carried presidential updates dated August 21, 2026.
The Electoral Commission's updated declaration of January 10, 2025 recorded Mahama with 6,591,790 votes, or 56.42 percent, from results in 275 of 276 constituencies. This differs from the Electoral Commission's earlier December 9, 2024 declaration based on 267 constituencies, which showed 6,328,397 votes and 56.55 percent.

Biographical facts

John Dramani Mahama was born on November 29, 1958, in Damongo, in present-day West Gonja District, Ghana.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Ghana in 1981 and a postgraduate diploma in Communication Studies from the university in 1986.
He received a postgraduate degree in social psychology from the Institute of Social Sciences in Moscow in 1988.
Mahama represented the Bole-Bamboi constituency in Ghana's Parliament from 1997 to 2009.
He served as Deputy Minister for Communications from 1997 to 1998 and became Minister for Communications in 1998.
Mahama served as Vice President of Ghana from January 2009 until July 24, 2012.
He became President on July 24, 2012, following the death of President John Evans Atta Mills, and served an elected presidential term from January 7, 2013, to January 6, 2017.
Mahama sought re-election in 2016 and lost to New Patriotic Party candidate Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
The Presidency of Ghana describes Mahama as the first Ghanaian president democratically elected to a non-consecutive second term.
Mahama was a co-chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Advocates group when it was launched in January 2016.
Mahama chaired the African Union High-Level African Trade Committee meeting held on January 29, 2015.