Mahama Recounts Trauma of Father’s Arrest After 1966 Coup: “Recurring Nightmares”
- President John Mahama opened up about some trauma he experienced following the arrest of his father after the 1966 coup
- His father, Emmanuel Adama Mahama, was a minister in Kwame Nkrumah’s government and was detained after the coup
- President Mahama's father also served as a senior presidential adviser during Ghana's Third Republic under Hilla Limann
President John Mahama has opened up about his personal struggles following the detention of his father, Emmanuel Adama Mahama, in the aftermath of Ghana’s 1966 coup.
Mahama shared the emotional account while addressing dignitaries at the opening of the 2026 Judicial Year and the 20th anniversary celebration of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Arusha, Tanzania.
Source: UGC
In his speech on March 2, shared on Facebook, while stressing judicial independence and the protection of human rights, he recounted the traumatic impact his father’s detention had on him as a young boy.
Speaking in the Facebook clip, President Mahama said:
“He was detained once and faced the risk twice more, and this fear led to recurring nightmares about him."
“By 1974, Ghana experienced another coup by Colonel I.K Acheampong, and by that time, my father had become a private citizen and was working as a rice farmer and agribusinessman with no involvement in politics.”
Mahama's father was a minister in Kwame Nkrumah’s government and was detained after the coup.
Nkrumah was Ghana's first president and was at the forefront of the country's fight for independence.
Mahama's father also served as a senior presidential adviser during Ghana's Third Republic under Hilla Limann.
Mahama speaks on judicial independence
Mahama also warned that judicial independence and democratic institutions are facing increasing threats worldwide due to rising executive interference and restrictions on civil liberties.
According to him, recent global developments show growing executive overreach and weakening legislative authority, undermining democratic governance systems.
He noted that freedoms of speech, assembly and protest are increasingly being curtailed, contributing to what he described as a sharp erosion of public confidence in governments.
Source: Facebook
“Judiciaries are no longer independent…We see executive overreach and a steady weakening of legislative independence."
“Restrictions are being placed on freedom of speech, assembly and protest. There is a general loss of liberties and a sharp decline in public trust in governments."
Mahama also observed that technological advancement has made global crises more interconnected, citing the rapid spread of COVID-19 as evidence of how developments in one part of the world quickly affect others.
He further warned African nations against measuring their democratic progress solely against Western standards, stressing that recent global trends should serve as a wake-up call for countries to strengthen their own institutions.
Yaw Dabo visits John Mahama's hometown
YEN.com.gh reported that Yaw Dabo, who is the owner of Dabo Soccer Academy, has called on Mahama to prioritise the development of his hometown, Bole.
According to Yaw Dabo, the football pitches in the community leave much to be desired.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
