Having previously served as president from 2012 to 2016, Ghanaian leader John Dramani Mahama’s December 2024 victory marks a return to the helm with a seasoned political playbook and a loyal inner circle.
John Mahama’s political resurgence in 2024 defied expectations. After a painful defeat in 2016, he spent years rebuilding his image and consolidating power within the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). His 2024 campaign, bolstered by economic grievances against the former government and a promise to restore what he called “the dignity of governance”, resonated with voters. His victory has ushered in a new era, though some familiar faces remain behind the scenes, playing pivotal roles in the administration.
Here are the power brokers who influence President Mahama and some of his decisions.
The family
(1) Lordina Mahama
The first lady is known for her philanthropy and quiet influence in governance. However, insiders say she wielded considerable power behind the scenes including playing a strategic advisory role in key appointments to state-owned enterprises and agencies. She has been married to President Mahama since 1992 and the couple have five children together.
(2) Ibrahim Mahama
The businessman behind Engineers and Planners Ltd and Dzata Cement, Ibrahim Mahama has long been a key financier of the NDC and his brother’s campaign. His influence extends to strategic government appointments and economic policies. Ibrahim leads a lavish lifestyle, owning a private jet that his brother utilised for official trips shortly after his inauguration. He is frequently spotted in Accra behind the wheels of his fleet of luxury sports cars and has a passion for jet skiing. He is a philanthropist.
A few weeks after losing the 2016 presidential elections, John Mahama’s government granted Ibrahim several bauxite mining leases that were later contested in court and revoked by the Nana Akufo-Addo government.
(3) Joyce Bawa Mogtari
Mahama’s niece and trusted special aide and adviser, Mogtari plays a crucial role in countering opposition narratives in both mainstream and social media. Before that role, she was the spokeswoman for Mahama’s election campaign in 2016. A trained lawyer, she has served as a deputy minister of transport in Mahama’s first term.
The gatekeepers
(4) Julius Debrah
Returning as chief of staff, Debrah is a trusted Mahama confidant, known for his political mobilisation and party organisation skills. It is often said that Debrah can second-guess Mahama. Their relationship dates back to the 1990s. When Mahama lost power in 2016, Debrah, also a campaign financier, was key in marshalling the young ones to start galvanising the base of the party behind the scenes. He is a man of less talk but more action. He owns a couple of Accra-based radio stations, including Power FM and Radio XYZ. He is seen as the heir apparent to Mahama in the 2028 elections.
(5) Callistus Mahama
As the executive secretary to the president, Callistus Mahama [no relation] plays a crucial role in signing off government appointments and policy execution. Until his recent appointment, he has been an adviser to Mahama and a senior staff in his private office while in opposition.
The Cambridge-trained local government expert previously headed Ghana’s local government service and managed John Mahama’s 2020 election campaign.
(6) Valerie Sawyerr
A veteran strategist, Sawyerr influences policy direction and governance strategy within the presidency in her capacity as a senior adviser. She previously served as deputy chief of staff in the late president John Atta Mills’s administration.
(7) Victor Smith
A longtime NDC stalwart, Smith has become one of the key assigns of the first family. His support extends beyond Mahama to even his brother Ibrahim. Smith plays a utility role in their affairs; he was with Ibrahim when the latter donated vehicles to the Liberian police force and government late last year. These days, Smith, a former spokesperson of former president Jerry John Rawlings, receives diplomatic guests on behalf of the government.
(8) Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna
A former agriculture minister, Limuna manages Mahama’s northern business interests and acts as a link to the Islamic community. In Mahama’s first term, Limuna served as regional minister for the Upper East and Northern Regions. He now serves as a chief of staff to one of the powerful palaces in northern Ghana.
Image makers
(9) Stan Dogbe
A longtime media strategist for Mahama, Dogbe controls messaging and branding for the presidency, managing key media engagements. The trained journalist is often described as the “right-hand man” of Mahama. He is currently the deputy chief of staff in charge of operations at the Jubilee House, the seat of government. The relationship between Dogbe and Mahama became so close that senior NDC officials suggested the former radio producer had become too influential. He has proven to be one of the loyal and efficient advocates of Mahama. Dogbe owns Woezor TV, a pro-NDC television station airing all Mahama’s activities live.
(10) Dele Momodu
The Ovation International magazine publisher has been a key figure in Mahama’s international outreach, especially in Nigeria, where he has secured financial and political backing. In 2016, Momodu, a Nigerian, published a special 256-page edition of Ovation International, highlighting Mahama’s achievements and the developmental projects undertaken by his government.
He joined Mahama on the campaign trail and sponsored popular Nigerian actor Nkem Owoh to endorse Mahama in campaign commercials. Mahama has described him as a “loyal friend”.
Money man
(11) Seidu Agongo
A top financier of Mahama’s campaign, Agongo’s business interests span agriculture, banking and media. He owned the now-defunct Heritage Bank that was shut down under Akufo-Addo in 2019. He also owns the Class Media Group. He has been standing trial throughout the two terms of the Akufo-Addo government over his business dealings with Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) until the charges were dropped recently when Mahama came to power. Whispers from high-profile persons have it that he has been influential in the latest appointments of heads of state enterprises and agencies. He is widely known for his charity gestures in deprived Muslim communities.
Security providers
(12) Prosper Bani
The former interior minister is one of Mahama’s trusted confidants. They’ve maintained the friendship since their university days. He served as Mahama’s first chief of staff during his initial four years in office and has now returned as his national security adviser.
(13) Kofi Boakye
A former police chief, Boakye oversees security operations at the presidency. He played a key role in security-related matters in the lead-up to the elections.
Spiritual anchor
(14) Stephen Wengam
The Assemblies of God leader serves as Mahama’s Christian spiritual adviser. As a member of the Assemblies of God church, Mahama often relies on the spiritual counsel of the radio preacher. In Mahama’s first term, Wengam was appointed the chairman of Ghana Prisons Service Council. He is highly regarded as a spiritual mentor and coach to political and corporate leaders.
Technocrats
(15) Joshua Alabi
A key figure in Mahama’s 2024 campaign, Alabi has been rewarded with the board chairmanship of GCB Bank PLC.
Alabi is a highly respected academic, administrator and business strategist whose career spans more than three decades across academia, public service and corporate leadership. He previously served as the chairman of Republic Bank.
(16) Togbe Afede XIV
As the paramount chief of Asogli State and a financial expert, Togbe Afede XIV plays an advisory role in economic policy mostly behind the scenes. Togbe Afede XIV is the founder of the SAS Group of companies. He has over 18 years of experience in investment banking, having co-founded Databank Financial Services Ltd in 1990. Togbe has played a critical role in the development of Ghana’s capital markets, including developing and publishing the first-ever stock market indices in 1991.
