Records set by Ghana’s First Supreme Leader John Mahama
John Mahama
Records Set by John Mahama in the 2024 Election
Mahama is the only president of Ghana to be sworn in 3 times as president of Ghana.
John Mahama will set a special record today as the only President of Ghana to have held the Sword of the State to be sworn in three times. He first held it after the passing of President John Atta Mills, then as a winner of the 2012 election, and now as the president following the winning of the 2024 election.
- Mahama’s new government, supported by 183 NDC members of parliament, secures nearly a two-thirds majority. This majority empowers the government to potentially enact significant constitutional changes, setting the stage for profound governance reforms.
Voter Support:
- Mahama is unique as the only former president to have lost an election served in opposition, and then regained the presidency through democratic elections, highlighting his resilience and the dynamic nature of Ghanaian politics.
- With Prof. Jane Nana Opoku Agyemang as his running mate, Mahama’s administration will break new ground by having the first female Vice President in Ghana, marking a significant step towards gender inclusivity in Ghanaian leadership.
READ: Statistics and Facts about Ghana’s 9th Parliament
10 Records Set by John Mahama up to 2016
First Vice President to Assume Presidency After a President’s Death: Mahama became President of Ghana following the death of President John Atta Mills in July 2012. This made him the first Vice President in Ghana’s history to ascend to the presidency under such circumstances.
First Head of State Born Post-Independence: Mahama was the first Ghanaian head of state to be born after Ghana’s independence in 1957.
First President Not to Win a Consecutive Second Term: In the 2016 election, Mahama became the first sitting president in Ghanaian history to lose a re-election bid, not securing a consecutive second term.
Highest Margin of Defeat for a Sitting President: Mahama lost the 2016 election with one of the highest margins of defeat for a sitting president, with 55.6% of the votes going against him.
First President to Serve at All Levels of Political Office: Mahama has served as an assemblyman, parliamentarian, deputy minister, minister, vice president, and president, covering all major levels of political office in Ghana.
First President to Have Held the Sword of the State More Than Once: During his tenure, Mahama was sworn in twice, thus holding the Sword of State, a symbol of executive power in Ghana, twice, which was unprecedented up to that point.
Significant Improvement in Democracy Index: Under Mahama’s presidency, Ghana’s ranking in the Democracy Index improved from 6.02 in 2012 to 6.75 in 2016, elevating its global position from 78th to 54th.
Improvement in Gender Equality: During his term, Ghana improved its global ranking for gender equality from 71st in 2012 to 59th in 2016.
Freedom of the Press Enhancement: Under Mahama, Ghana’s ranking in the Freedom of the Press index moved from 41st in 2012 to 26th in 2016, showcasing an era of relative press freedom.
Lowest Unemployment Rate: Mahama’s administration saw unemployment rates decrease from 3.6% in 2012 to 2.3% in 2016, which was the lowest recorded during his term.
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