John Dramani Mahama was born on November 29, 1958 to Emmanuel Adama Mahama and Abiba Nnaba Sluwu.
An indigene of Bole-Bamboi, he belongs to the Gonja tribe founded by Ndewura Sumaila Jakpa.
He attended Ghana Senior High School birthed on January 22, 1960 which boasts of notable alumni namely Lordina Mahama, Justice Joseph Bawa Akamba, Alhassan Andani, Moses Aduku Asaga, Hamid Baba Braimah, Prince Imoro Andani, John Jinapor, Abukari Sumani, Abdulai Abanga, Professor Felix Kofi Abagale, Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Henry Kofi Ford Kamel, Dr. Sulley Gariba, Dr. Ahmed Yakubu Alhassan, Major Hans Kwame Nsiah retired, Abedi Ayew, Augustina Aforo-Yeboah, Mahama Ayariga, Hassan Abdulai Ayariga and Moses Nayon Bilijo for his secondary education.
Having excelled academically and acquitted himself himself creditably as Prefect of Amilcar Cabral House, he proceeded to the University of Ghana for further acquisition of inexhaustible knowledge and had Gabriel Scott Pwamang, Hajia Alima Mahama, Reginald Yoofi Grant and Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafo as contemporaries.
Assigned to Commonwealth Hall, he obtained a degree in History and later bagged a Masters in Communication Studies.
The self-motivated and result-oriented gem taught History at his alma mater as part of his National Service and armed himself with a postgraduate diploma in Social Psychology at the Institute of Social Sciences in Moscow.
After enhancing his abilities intellectually, the youthful and energetic soon-to-be politician worked as Information, Culture and Research Officer at the Japanese Embassy.
He also worked with PLAN International, Ghana as International Relations, Sponsorship, Communications and Grants Manager.
His entry into politics in 1996 was a blessing in disguise having been elected as Member of Parliament to represent the Bole-Bamboi Constituency for a four-year term.
In the ensuing year, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Communications and later served as the substantive Minister between November 1998 and January 2001.
His re-election in 2000 and 2004 as a Legislator was also worth savouring.
In 2005, he was appointed the Minority Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and additionally chaired the West African Caucus of the Pan-African Parliament after becoming a Member in 2003.
After serving in these capacities meticulously, he was handpicked to become the vice presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress in 2008.
Following the party's expectant victory in elections, he was ushered into office on January 7, 2009 as Vice- President till July 24, 2012 when the baton of leadership was entrusted to him after the untimely demise of President Professor John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills.
On January 7, 2013 he was sworn-in for a four-year term as President and ceded power to his successor William Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo after losing gallantly in elections held on December 7, 2016.
Four years later, he vied for the Presidency with illustrious academician Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as running mate but lost to the incumbent for the second time.
A devout Christian by faith, he married Lordina Akosua Frema Mahama nee Effah on July 29, 1992 and is blessed with five adorable children namely Shahid Mahama, Shafik Mahama, Sharaf Mahama, Jesse Mahama and Farida Gyamfua Mahama.
A publisher of numerous articles which has received both national and international recognition, his first literary masterpiece, My First Coup d'Etat and Other True Stories from the Lost Decades of Africa, was published by Bloomsbury on July 3, 2012.