Who is John Mahama ?

Page 13, April 10, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
JOHN Dramani Mahama, who was nominated as the running mate of the flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Professor John Evans Atta Mills, yesterday, has risen from a humble beginning in Damango in the Northern Region to fame.
The nominee, who has been the representative of the people of Bole/Bamboi in Parliament since January 7, 1997, is popular with MPs from both the minority and majority sides.
He is also popular among staff of the Parliamentary Service and members of the Parliamentary Press Corps because of his excellent human relations and humility.
Born in Damango on November 29, 1958, Mr Mahama attended Ghana’s premier university, the University of Ghana, Legon from 1979 to 1981 and came out with a Bachelor of Arts- B.A. (Hons).
In 1985, Mr Mahama went back to the university to do a Post-graduate Diploma course in Communication Studies and since then has not relented in using his knowledge to the service of humanity.
Between 1991 and 1995, he worked at the Japan Embassy as an information officer before joining an international non-governmental organisation (NGO), Plan International, as its Sponsorship and Grants Manager, from 1995 to 1996.
Mr Mahama joined the political bandwagon and got elected in 1997 to Parliament and since then he has been the obvious choice of his constituents by winning the subsequent two elections (2000 and 2004).
He served as the Deputy Minister of Communications between 1997 and 1998 before being made the substantive sector minister between 1998 and 2001.
When the NDC lost power in the 2000 elections, Mr Mahama did not relent in his efforts but served in various capacities as the Minority Spokesperson.
Notable among such positions were the Ranking Member of Communications and currently, he is the Ranking Member for Foreign Affairs.
He has been one of the major voices of the Minority in Parliament as his contributions on the various statements, bills, legislative instruments and papers, among others, have been tremendous.
Mr Mahama who is a member of the Pan African Parliament is married with five children.
When contacted, the Minority Leader and MP for Nawdowli West, Mr Alban Sumana Kingford Bagbin, told the Daily Graphic that “this is one of the best decisions to have been made by the NDC in recent times”.