Lordina Mahama

Lordina Mahama is a Ghanaian public figure and humanitarian who has served as the First Lady of Ghana during two distinct periods, from 2012 to 2017 and again since January 2025. She is married to John Mahama, the President of Ghana. Beyond her ceremonial role, Lordina Mahama is widely recognized for her dedicated advocacy in health, women’s empowerment, and social welfare across Ghana.

Early Life and Education
Born to the late Mr. and Mrs. Effah, Lordina hails from Jema-Ampoma in the Nkoranza District of Ghana’s Brong-Ahafo Region. She is the youngest of three children. Her foundational education took place in Tamale, Northern Ghana, attending Tishigu Anglican Elementary School and later Ghana Secondary School in Tamale, where she met her future husband, John Dramani Mahama.

Lordina pursued professional training in catering and hospitality management. She earned a degree and a Master of Arts in Governance and Leadership from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). Additionally, she obtained a Master of Laws (LLM) in Business Law and International Business Law from De Montfort University, UK, in 2019, showcasing her commitment to continuous personal and professional development.

Political and Public Roles
Lordina Mahama’s public life formally began when she became Ghana’s Second Lady in 2009, following her husband’s election as Vice President. She transitioned to the role of First Lady in July 2012 after her husband succeeded the late President John Atta Mills. She served in this capacity until 2017 and resumed the position in January 2025.

During her tenure as First Lady, Lordina Mahama focused on advocacy for HIV/AIDS awareness, breast and cervical cancer prevention, and social welfare for vulnerable populations, including orphans and women accused of witchcraft. She led initiatives that promoted early cancer detection and collaborated with government and international partners to extend healthcare services nationwide.

She also held leadership roles beyond Ghana, notably serving as President of the Organisation of African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA) from 2015. In this capacity, she championed efforts to reduce mother-to-child HIV transmission and empower African women in reproductive health.

Advocacy and Humanitarian Work
Lordina Mahama’s humanitarian endeavors are largely channeled through the Lordina Mahama Foundation, whose motto is “The more we share, the more we have.” The foundation supports various causes, including improving healthcare access, providing basic needs to orphans, and aiding alleged witches living in marginalized “witch camps.”

One significant focus was the Gambaga Witch Camp in the North-East Region, where she initiated vocational training centers and accommodation projects aimed at empowering women and girls through skills development and entrepreneurship. She also donated start-up kits to graduates of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programs to foster economic independence.

Her commitment to healthcare extended to supporting the Ghana AIDS Commission’s integrated outreach programs, which combined HIV/AIDS education and treatment with breast and cervical cancer screenings, reaching all ten regions of Ghana.

Care for the Underprivileged and Rural Communities
Lordina Mahama frequently engaged in charitable visits, delivering food, clothing, and medical supplies to orphanages and underserved communities, including multiple visits to the Gambaga Witch Camp and children’s homes in Accra, Tamale, and Brong Ahafo. In 2024, she actively advocated for improved rural healthcare access, donating essential medical equipment to the Tishigu Health Centre in Tamale North.

Women Empowerment and Education
Recognizing the vital role of women in national development, Lordina invested in empowerment initiatives through the establishment of vocational training centers and support for artisans. Her programs aimed to equip women with practical skills to become economically self-reliant and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

Personal Life
Lordina Mahama is married to John Dramani Mahama, with whom she has five children: Shafik, Shahid, Sharaf, Jesse, and Farida. She is multilingual, fluent in English, Hausa, Dagbani, and Twi, reflecting her diverse cultural roots and national integration.

Honours and Recognition
Throughout her public service, Lordina Mahama has received numerous accolades, reflecting her influence and dedication:

• Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Fordham University

• Campaign awards for cervical cancer advocacy in Mozambique and Namibia

• Induction into the Global Women Leaders Hall of Fame

• Global Inspiration Leadership Award at the Africa-Middle East-Asia Summit in Dubai

• Enstoolments as Sompahemaa of the Nkoranza Traditional Area (Nana Akosua Fremaa Ampomah Sika I) and Development Queen in multiple regions, including Bodom, Ampoma, and Anloga.

Lordina Mahama’s enduring commitment to public health, women’s empowerment, and social welfare has made her a prominent figure in Ghana and across Africa, inspiring many through her compassionate leadership and transformative initiatives as First Lady.

• Date Of Birth: 6 March 1963
• Country: Ghana
• President/ Head Of State: President John Mahama
• Years in Office: 24 July 2012 – 7 January 2017, 7 January 2025 – Present