Former President John Dramani Mahama Expected to Return to Ghana’s Leadership

John Dramani Mahama is poised to reassume the presidency of Ghana following his primary opponent’s concession, despite the electoral commission not yet having declared the official outcomes. The 65-year-old previously governed Ghana between 2012 and 2017 and is recognized as one of the West African nation’s most seasoned political figures. His career has encompassed every tier of public service, including roles as an MP, deputy minister, minister, vice-president, and president. Even prior to politics becoming his profession, it held considerable importance in Mahama’s early life. At the age of seven, his father, then a government minister, was imprisoned during a military coup and subsequently lived in exile. Such personal hardships are reflected in Mahama’s celebrated literary works; he has had articles featured in various international news organizations, and his memoir, My First Coup D’etat, garnered commendation from two prominent African literary figures, Ngugi wa Thiong’o and Chinua Achebe. During the drafting of his platform for the current year’s elections, Mahama informed the electorate that Ghana “is headed in the wrong direction and needs to be rescued”. However, detractors contend that he might not be the suitable candidate for the position, considering his previous administration faced economic difficulties and numerous corruption allegations. Mahama’s life commenced in 1958, with his birth in the northern settlement of Damongo. Several years later, he relocated to the capital city, Accra, to reside with his father, Emmanuel Adama Mahama. Within My First Coup d’Etat, Mahama Jr characterizes himself as “an observant child with an active imagination and an unbounded curiosity”. He also enjoyed a comparatively privileged upbringing. The family possessed an additional residence in Bole, a town that was then unconnected to the national electricity grid. Mahama’s parents could afford to purchase a diesel generator for their six-bedroom dwelling, making it the sole illuminated house in the locality. When darkness descended, local inhabitants would assemble outside the residence, drawn by the peculiar orange illumination. The individual who would become president received his foundational education at Achimota boarding school, a renowned establishment recognized for nurturing leaders such as Ghana’s Jerry John Rawlings, Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe, and Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s inaugural prime minister following its independence from the UK. In 1966, while at Achimota, Mahama learned of a coup d’état. Military and police forces had stormed government structures in Ghana, wresting control from Nkrumah, who was abroad on an official visit. With information gradually emerging, Mahama grew progressively concerned, having received no communication from his father. The seven-year-old Mahama worried his father had been killed due to his close association with Nkrumah. It was subsequently revealed that his father had been incarcerated, remaining imprisoned for roughly one year. Following a second military coup in 1981, Mahama’s father departed the nation for Nigeria. Concurrently, Mahama dedicated his twenties and thirties to academic pursuits, earning a Communication Studies degree from the University of Ghana prior to his studies at Moscow’s Institute of Social Sciences. Mahama observed that his period in Russia, then part of the Soviet Union, made him aware of “the imperfections of the socialist system”. Upon his return to Ghana in 1996, Mahama entered the political arena, emulating his father’s path. He secured election as a Member of Parliament representing the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party, subsequently ascending through the political hierarchy. He focused intently on the NDC’s public communication, serving as parliamentary spokesperson and minister for communication. Over a span of 13 years, Mahama progressed to the position of vice-president, serving as the second-in-command to President John Atta Mills. However, after merely three years in his term, Mills passed away suddenly at 68 years old. Only hours following this unfortunate event, the 58-year-old Mahama took the oath of office as president. In his address, Mahama characterized that day as the “saddest” in Ghana’s history. Later that year, general elections took place, and the electorate opted to retain Mahama in power. What kind of leader is Mahama? Franklin Cudjoe, a Ghanaian political analyst and director of the Imani Centre for Policy and Education, informed the BBC that the former president was an “excellent communicator”. Meanwhile, political scientist Dr Clement Sefa-Nyarko characterized Mahama as a “pragmatist”. Dr Sefa-Nyarko, who delivers lectures on African leadership at King’s College London, stated that Mahama possesses charisma, but only within an environment where “politics is driven by reality and intelligent communication”. Nevertheless, in present-day Ghana, a significant portion of voters are swayed by overly ambitious promises, as per Dr Clement Sefa-Nyarko, implying that the pragmatic Mahama is “not able to charm the populace much”. During his campaign for re-election prior to the 2016 elections, Mahama emphasized numerous infrastructure initiatives finalized during his tenure, including those within the transportation, health, and education domains. Yet, during his leadership, Ghanaians also endured a struggling economy and extensive electricity outages. Mahama acquired the moniker “Mr Dumsor” in connection with the blackouts, where “dum” signifies off and “sor” means on in the indigenous Twi language. His period in office was also marred by allegations of corruption. For example, a UK court determined that the aerospace firm Airbus had employed bribes to secure military aircraft contracts with Ghana between 2009 and 2015; however, Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor found no proof of Mahama’s personal involvement in any corrupt practices. Mr Cudjoe stated that “lingering issues” persist concerning these corruption scandals, which the present electorate will “remember”. Nevertheless, he also highlights that, based on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), corruption worsened during the administration of Nana Akufo-Addo, who defeated Mahama in the 2016 elections. Ghana’s average CPI score was 45.8 during Mahama’s presidency but declined to 42 under Akufo-Addo, within a ranking where zero indicates “highly corrupt” and 100 signifies “very clean”. Mahama sought to regain his former position in 2020 but was again defeated by Akufo-Addo. Despite these electoral setbacks, Mahama has stayed active in politics, presently serving as the opposition leader. He also maintains a full life outside of politics, being a father of seven children and spending time with his wife, Lordina. Furthermore, Mahama is a prolific author. Beyond his memoir, he has contributed articles to media organizations such as The New York Times, the prominent African-American magazine Ebony, and Ghana’s state-owned Daily Graphic. Mahama has also articulated his enthusiasm for music, stating that Nigerian Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti contributed to shaping his “political consciousness” and that Michael Jackson is “one of the greatest artistes that ever lived”. In a notable turn of events, the former president was commemorated in “Mahama Paper,” a track by Ghanaian dancehall artist Shatta Wale. Wale explained that the song’s title alluded to the Ghanaian currency notes issued during Mahama’s time in office. Unsurprisingly, Mahama has incorporated the popular song into his ongoing campaign, highlighting that under Akufo-Addo’s leadership, Ghana has descended into its most severe economic crisis in years. He has also been reminding Ghanaians of his vast political background, yet the reality persists that he was previously removed from office because the populace deemed his performance inadequate. The people of Ghana will likely anticipate that a second iteration of Mahama’s presidency represents a clear enhancement. Further reporting was provided by Thomas Naadi in Accra. Visit BBCAfrica.com for additional news from the African continent. Connect with us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa, or on Instagram at bbcafrica. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the material on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.