John Mahama

Mahama in 2014, before his first stint of being called His Excellency. At that point, he was addressed as Your Adequacy.

John Dramani Mahama (/məˈhɑːmə/; born 29 November 1958) is the 12th and 14th President of Ghana, his current term having begun on 7 January 2025. Ghanaian voters were inspired by Donald Trump being both the 45th and 47th U.S. President (though some say this had been done before) and anxious to prove that Ghana could do it too. They were also ready for another go, having had four years to recover from Mahama's first Presidency (/ˈhɑːmənə-ˈhɑːmənə-ˈhɑːmənə/).

Mahama was the candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). His rise to office sets a variety of records: First President to be younger than the nation, first to be President in non-consecutive terms, and first to excel in hitting empty beer cans with stones from twenty paces (7 m). He has been an MP, pan-African MP, Deputy Minister, Minister, Vice President, and President, a feat known in Ghanaian political circles as "Bingo!"

Mahama started his first term upon the death of his predecessor, John Atta Mills, on 24 July 2012. The so-called "Atta-boy" gave a stirring speech to accept his new responsibilities. He stated, "This is the saddest day in our nation's history. Tears have engulfed our nation. But enough of that — Where is the royal scepter???"

Cabinet

Mahama Ayariga, MP from Bawku, became Minister of Information in President Mahama's first term. He is reportedly open to a portfolio in the second term. This Mahama (/məˈhɑːmə/) is not a relative of the Big Mahama. However, can you really take that chance?

Quotations

“When you kill a goat and you frighten it with a knife, it doesn't fear the knife because it is dead already. I have dead goat syndrome.”

~ Mahama (/məˈhɑːmə/), speaking to members of the Ghanaian community in Botswana

English majors call this an analogy. The only thing "Dead Goat Syndrome" could mean in Mahama's case is that he does not fear criticism because he realises that his chance to achieve great things has already expired.

“The only thing that I am jealous of is that my opponent has the opportunity to sleep in Accra and I have to sleep in Tamale.”

~ Mahama on his political rival and former president of Ghana, Akufo-Addo

In fact, another thing that Mahama is jealous of is the fact that, on foreign junkets, the president always gets the top bunk.

“I am not a magician; I cannot make money grow on trees.”

~ Mahama on the continuing economic malaise

However, Mahama's manifesto, which promised widespread prosperity, omitted the disclaimer that he is not a magician and could not make money grow on trees. For the 2025-29 Presidential term, requisitions have gone out for magic wands.