President John Dramani Mahama addressed the 2026 Judicial Year of the African Court
President John Dramani Mahama has opened up about the recurring nightmares he experienced as a teenager, fearing for his father’s life during Ghana’s turbulent political past.
He made this known while addressing the 2026 Judicial Year of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights on Monday, March 2, 2026.
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“As a teenager, I often dreamt of my father standing before judges awaiting the decision on his fate. He was detained once and faced the risk twice more, and this fear led to recurring nightmares about him,” he shared.
He explained that his father, a minister in Kwame Nkrumah’s government, was detained immediately following the coup that overthrew Nkrumah.
“… My father was a minister in Kwame Nkrumah’s government, and immediately after the coup, he along with other ministers of state, Members of Parliament and other government officials, were asked to report to the police station for their own safety.
“At the police station, he was interrogated, taken into custody and he remained in detention for over a year,” he narrated.
President Mahama further recounted how his father faced renewed risk during the 1974 coup led by Colonel Ignatius Kutu Acheampong, despite having become a private citizen and working as a rice farmer and agribusinessman by then.
“By 1974, just eight years later, Ghana experienced another coup by led by our fifth head of state and third military ruler, Colonel IK Acheampong, and by that time, my father had become a private citizen and was working as a rice farmer and an agribusinessman with no involvement in politics or government,” President Mahama recounted.
He shared a particularly striking story of his father’s principled stance, writing a letter to Colonel Acheampong offering praise for his leadership while also giving unsolicited advice.
“He was a staunch believer in democracy and he opposed coup making but he appreciated Colonel Acheampong whose policies promoted Ghana’s self-reliance. He believed that Acheampong had Ghana’s best interests at heart. Like many parents, my father and I as well often offer unsolicited advice.
“It starts with our own children and eventually we extend it to friends, neighbors, to strangers, and in my father’s case, even to the head of state. My father decided to write a letter to the head of state, Colonel Acheampong, to let him know that he was doing a wonderful job of leading Ghana,” he said.
The president revealed that his father was detained for several days on suspicion of subversion, following that letter but was eventually released.
“In that letter, he offered as usual, his unsolicited advice and he said, and I quote, ‘But do not hold on to power for too long. Leave when the applause is the loudest.’ He sent the letter and soon after, personnel arrived at our home and took my father into custody for questioning.
“He was detained for several days on suspicion of subversion but later, Colonel Acheampong ultimately determined that he posed no real threat and ordered his release,” he indicated.
Reflecting on the experience, President John Dramani Mahama described the lasting impact it had on him, particularly on issues regarding human rights and justice.
“Although I stand before you as a head of state, I remain the child whose father was detained for serving his country and advising its leader. I’m still the little boy who learned how dangerous it can be to challenge those in power, who may act with impunity and assume the role of judges, jury, and executioner over you,” he concluded.
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Source:
www.ghanaweb.com
