If there was any president who has endured so much grief while in office in the history of Ghana, it, arguably, should be the country’s current leader, John Dramani Mahama.
Mahama, during both his first term as president and his current term, has experienced some unfortunate tragedies and lost a number of close relations, including his mother, as well as some very trusted political appointees.
The president, in his over 5 years of ruling the country, has had to declare 3 separate national days of mourning.
These deaths certainly have had some impact on his presidency. On a number of occasions, Mahama has stated that the impacts of the deaths of some of these personalities have been hard on him.
Here are some of the moments of sorrows President Mahama has had to face:
Loss of President Mills:
President Mahama was the Vice President of the late Prof John Evans Atta Mills
One of the first acts President John Dramani Mahama had to see the nation through was a 7-day national mourning, following the death of the late former President Prof John Evans Atta Mills.
On July 24, 2012, Ghanaians were thrown into a state of sudden mourning, sorrows and utter shock after news of the demise of former President John Evans Atta Mills hit the airwaves.
Shortly after falling ill, the late Atta Mills was rushed to the 37 Military Hospital in Accra for treatment, but soon passed away.
His death affected many Ghanaians, both young and old, and other political figures from the continent and beyond, because he was the first serving and sitting president to die in office in the country’s history.
Suddenly, Mahama, who did not initially even want to be vice president, had to step up as the president of Ghana. And his first task was to bury the man who managed to convince him to be a vice president.
Defence Minister Dr Omane Boamah, Dr Murtala Mohammed and others dead
June 3 Fire and Flood Disaster:
Aftermath of the disaster
President John Dramani Mahama, on June 5, 2015, had to declare three days of national mourning for the people who lost their lives in the fire and flood tragedy which occurred at the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange (Circle), in Accra.
On that fateful night of June 3, 2015, a devastating flood, accompanied by a fire explosion at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra claimed 154 lives, injured 154 others, and left an indelible mark on the nation’s psyche.
The aftermath was nothing short of grim, with bodies scattered across the streets and emergency responders working tirelessly to clear the devastation. The total value of property loss was estimated at GH¢1.65 million.
President Mahama again had to see the nation through this devastating event.
Loss of Mahama’s Mother:
About a year after the June 3 fire and flood disaster, President Mahama lost his mother, Abiba Nnaba.
The president’s mother died at the SSNIT Hospital in Accra on the morning of Wednesday, June 15, 2016, after a protracted ailment.
President Mahama recently told a story of how losing his parents to chronic diseases inspired his Ghana Medical Trust Fund (Mahama Cares) initiative, which is designed to support specialist-level treatments for a wide range of chronic illnesses, including cancers, cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney failures, and stroke.
Black Wednesday: Government declares 3-day National Mourning
Loss of Vice President Amissah-Arthur:
The late Former Vice President Amissah-Arthur
After losing the 2016 Election, President Mahama also lost his running mate for the election and the man who was his vice president during his first term, Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur.
The late former vice president died on the morning of Friday, June 29, 2018, shortly after collapsing at the Air Force Gym in Accra during a workout.
He was rushed to the 37 Military Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Mahama, who could not believe the demise of his vice, described it as a “very sad Friday.”
August 6 Black Wednesday:
The 8 victims of the helicopter crash
John Dramani Mahama’s third state of national mourning was after the recent tragic crash of a helicopter, which belonged to the Ghana Armed Forces, on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at Adansi Afrofuom in the Ashanti Region.
The crash claimed the lives of the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed; the Minister of Defence, Dr Edward Omane Boamah; Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna; former Central Regional Minister and NDC First Vice Chairman, Samuel Sarpong; and Samuel Aboagye, Deputy NADMO Coordinator.
The remaining victims were members of the helicopter’s crew: Squadron Leader Peter Baafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manaen Twum Ampadu, and Sgt Ernest Addo Mensah.
They were all aboard the Z9 helicopter headed towards Obuasi for an anti-galamsey (small-scale illegal gold mining) event when the tragedy occurred.
BAI/AE
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