Aliu Mahama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Aliu Mahama
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| 4th President of Ghana (3rd Vice-President of the 4th Republic) |
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| In office 7 January 2002 – 7 January 2009 |
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| President | John Agyekum Kufuor |
| Preceded by | John Atta Mills |
| Succeeded by | John Dramani Mahama |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 March 1946 Yendi, Gold Coast (then a colony of the United Kingdom) |
| Died | 16 November 2012 (aged 66) Accra, Ghana |
| Political party | New Patriotic Party |
| Spouse | Ramatu Aliu Mahama |
| Relations | Imoru Egala (father-in-law) |
| Profession | Quantity surveyor, civil engineer, contractor |
Alhaji Aliu Mahama (born March 3, 1946 – died November 16, 2012) was an important Ghanaian leader. He was the Vice-President of Ghana from 2001 to 2009. He was a member of the New Patriotic Party. Aliu Mahama was also Ghana's first Muslim Vice-President.
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Early Life and Education
Aliu Mahama belonged to the Dagomba people. He grew up in Tamale. From 1960 to 1967, he studied at the Government Secondary School there. He earned his Ordinary and Advanced Level Certificates.
After high school, he went to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi. He studied there from 1967 to 1971. He earned a degree in Building Technology. This taught him how to design and build structures.
Mahama also attended the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). He received two special certificates from GIMPA. These were in Project Planning and Management, and in Leadership.
Career Highlights
Aliu Mahama started his career as an engineer in 1972. He worked for the State Construction Corporation in Bolgatanga. He helped build things there until 1975.
He was then promoted and moved to Koforidua. From 1976 to 1982, he managed the corporation's office in Tamale.
In 1982, he started his own company called LIDRA Limited. This company focused on civil engineering and construction. He was its managing director. He also led the Northern Regional Contractors Association from 1996 until 2000.
Mahama was also involved in local government. He was a councilor for the Yendi District in 1978. In 1990, he became an assemblyman for the Tamale Municipal Assembly. He also helped lead the Economic Development Committee for the Tamale-Louisville Sister State Committee.
He served on the boards of several high schools in the Northern Region. He was also a board member for the football team Real Tamale United. He was one of the people who helped start the team.
Family Life
Aliu Mahama was married to Hajia Ramatu Mahama. They had a son named Farouk Aliu Mahama. Farouk is now a Member of Parliament for the Yendi area. He also leads the board of the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Corporation.
Retirement from Politics
After serving two terms as Vice-President, Aliu Mahama wanted to become president. He tried to get his party's nomination in 2007. However, he did not win enough votes from his party members. He received about 6% of the votes. After this, he decided to retire from politics.
Passing Away
Aliu Mahama passed away on November 16, 2012. He was 66 years old. He died at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra. His death was caused by heart problems and issues from a stroke. This happened almost four months after President John Atta Mills also passed away.
State Funeral and Burial
A special state funeral was held for him on November 18, 2012. Hundreds of people attended the service at Independence Square in Accra. The funeral followed Islamic traditions.
He was also honored by the military. An army procession went with his coffin. He received a 19-gun salute. This is a special honor given to former vice-presidents.
After the funeral, his body was flown to Tamale. A Ghana Air Force jet carried him there. He was buried at his private home in Kalpohin. His wife, Ramatu Aliu Mahama, was later buried close to him.
