Meet John Mahama's children and get a glimpse into the Ghanaian president's family

Meet John Mahama's children and get a glimpse into the Ghanaian president's family

John Mahama's children—Shafik, Shahid, Sharaf, Jesse, and Farida—generally stay out of the spotlight. However, occasional glimpses into their personal and professional lives provide insight into the private side of Ghana's former leader.

President John Mahama (L) and his wife and five children (R)
President John Mahama poses during an official ceremony (L). John Mahama's wife and five children at home (R). Photo: @JDMahama, @mrsmahama on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Key takeaways

  • John Mahama has five children—Shafik, Shahid, Sharaf, Jesse, and Farida—with his wife Lordina Mahama.
  • Shafik Mahama studied in the UAE and UK.
  • Shahid Mahama studied at Ndewura Jakpa Senior School and the University of Cape Coast and prefers to live a quiet life outside the public spotlight.
  • Sharaf Mahama played professional football for clubs in Belgium and Germany.
  • Jesse and Farida Mahama are the youngest children. They are still in school.

John Mahama's profile summary

Full nameJohn Dramani Mahama
GenderMale
Date of birth29 November 1958
Age66 years old (as of April 2025)
Zodiac signSagittarius
Place of birthDamongo, Ghana
Current residenceAccra, Ghana
NationalityGhanaian
EthnicityBlack
ReligionChristianity
SexualityStraight
Hair colourBlack
Eye colourDark brown
MotherAbiba Nnaba
FatherEmmanuel Adama Mahama
SiblingsThree
Marital statusMarried
WifeLordina Mahama
ChildrenFive
SchoolAchimota School, Ghana Secondary School
UniversityUniversity of Ghana, Moscow Institute of Social Sciences
ProfessionPolitician
Instagram@officialjdmahama
Facebook@JDMahama
X (Twitter)@JDMahama

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Meet John Mahama's children

John Mahama, the 12th and 14th President of Ghana, has four sons and one daughter. The couple has built a strong family foundation while keeping their children's lives private. Here is everything you need to know about John Mahama's children, including their ages, dates of birth, careers, and more

1. Shakif Mahama

Shakif Mahama with his Algerian wife, Asma.
Shakif Mahama poses with his Algerian wife, Asma, in Accra, Ghana. Photo: @azzzyyyy on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Date of birth: 21 December
  • Zodiac: Sagittarius
  • Wife: Asma

Shafik Mahama, the eldest son of Ghanaian President John Mahama, has largely kept a low profile despite his family's prominence. He has lived in multiple countries, including the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates, where he pursued a media and mass communication degree. Shafik graduated on 18 January 2018.

Beyond his professional life, Shafik is known for his quiet and disciplined nature. On 16 July 2020, he married Asma, an Algerian woman, in a private ceremony attended by close family members. The couple has a daughter, Alyazia Frema, born in 2022.

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2. Shahid Dramani Mahama

  • Date of birth: 16 August
  • Zodiac sign: Leo
  • School: Ndewura Jakpa Senior School
  • University: University of Cape Coast

Shahid is the second son of Ghanaian President John Mahama and First Lady Lordina. He completed his high school education at Ndewura Jakpa Senior School in Damongo, Ghana, before furthering his studies at the University of Cape Coast. Shahid prefers to live away from media scrutiny.

3. Sharaf Mahama

Sharaf Mahama in two different outfits—one casual (L) and one traditional (R).
Sharaf Mahama, the third child of Ghanaian President John Mahama, showcases his versatile style. Photo: @officialjdmahama on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Date of birth: 21 September 1996
  • Age: 28 years old (as of April 2025)
  • Zodiac sign: Virgo
  • Occupation: Footballer

Sharaf is the third son of President John Mahama and First Lady Lordina. He is known for his football career, having played for various European clubs, including Rostocker FC in Germany, Charleroi U21 in Belgium, and Tempo Overijse.

Beyond football, Sharaf is into philanthropy and youth empowerment. He founded Legacy Rise Sports, an initiative supporting young Ghanaian athletes by providing training, mentorship, and global exposure.

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4. Jesse "Prof" Mahama

  • Date of birth: 21 August 2002
  • Age: 22 years old (as of April 2025)
  • Zodiac sign: Leo
  • School: Ghana International School (GIS)

Jesse is the fourth son of President John Mahama. He attended Ghana International School (GIS), where he developed a reputation for his sharp intellect and engaging personality, earning him the nickname "Prof." Jesse Mahama is currently a university student.

5. Farida Mahama

Farida Mahama (L) and Farida Mahama with her parents (R).
Farida Mahama (L) and a cherished family moment with her parents (R). Photo: @iamfaridamahama, @officialjdmahama on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Date of birth: 16 July 2007
  • Age: 17 years old (as of April 2025)
  • Zodiac sign: Cancer

Farida Mahama is the only daughter of Ghanaian President John Mahama and First Lady Lordina Mahama. According to Pulse, Farida hosted a Q&A session in 2020 on her Instagram, where she disclosed some information about herself.

She expressed that she is not interested in politics. Farida also enjoys fashion, music, and social media. Here are some direct quotes from John Mahama's daughter based on her 2020 Instagram Q&A session:

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Whether she is in university:

No, I'm not, sadly.

On being the daughter of a president:

It feels normal.

On whether she aspired to be a politician like her dad:

No, I'm not really interested in politics.

On how she spends her time:

Eating and just use my phone the whole day.

On whether the negative attacks or comments against her father hurt her:

Sometimes but we move.

Does she speak local languages?

I don't speak any local language, but I'm trying to learn Twi.

Her top five favourite Ghanaian musicians/rappers:

I don't know, I like all of them.

Is Farida Mahama adopted?

Farida Mahama is widely recognised as the biological daughter of John Dramani Mahama and Lordina Mahama. However, a 2012 article from GhanaWeb alleges she was adopted from the Osu Children's Home that same year. Given these conflicting reports, further verification from credible sources may be necessary to establish the truth.

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FAQs

  1. How many children did JM have? John Mahama has five known children from his marriage to Lordina Mahama.
  2. What are John Mahama's children's names? They are Shafik, Shahid, Sharaf, Jesse, and Farida Mahama.
  3. How old are John Mahama's children? Sharaf Mahama is 28, Jesse Mahama is 21, and Farida Mahama is 18, based on their birthdates in 1996, 2003, and 2006 (as of this writing). However, the ages of Mahama's first two children are unknown publicly.
  4. What is the name of Mahama's daughter? John Dramani Mahama's daughter is known as Farida.
  5. Who is John Mahama's father? His father was Emmanuel Adama Mahama, a former Ghanaian minister under Ghana's first president, Kwame Nkrumah.
  6. What religion is John Mahama? John is a Christian, but some of his family members, including his late mother and sons, are Muslims.

John Mahama's children have grown up in the spotlight but have chosen different career paths. Sharaf plays professional football, while Shafik and Shahid maintain private lives. Jesse and Farida Mahama have not publicly disclosed their professional pursuits.

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Yen.com.gh recently featured an article exploring Nana Ama McBrown's children. As a celebrated Ghanaian actress and TV personality, McBrown has captivated fans not only with her talent but also with her inspiring journey of motherhood.

Nana Ama McBrown's fame has generated interest in her personal life, with fans curious about her life as a mother. Read the article for more about Nana Ama McBrown's five children.

Source: YEN.com.gh

Authors:
Chris Ndetei avatar

Chris Ndetei (Lifestyle writer) Christopher Ndetei is a reporter writer who joined the Yen team in May 2021. He graduated from the Machakos Technical College in 2009 with a diploma in ICT. Chris has over three years of experience in content creation and more than ten working in the hospitality industry. He covers lifestyle/entertainment, focusing on biographies, life hacks, gaming and guides. In 2023, Christopher finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can reach him at chrisndetei@gmail.com