Lordina Mahama

Lordina Mahama (née Effah) (born March 6, 1963) is a Ghanaian former First Lady of Ghana. She is married to the fourth President of the Fourth Republic of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama.[1]

Lordina Dramani Mahama
First Lady of Ghana
In role
24 July 2012 – 7 January 2017
PresidentJohn Dramani Mahama
Preceded byErnestina Naadu Mills
Succeeded byRebecca Akufo-Addo
Second Lady of Ghana
In role
7 January 2009 – 24 July 2012
Preceded byRamatu Aliu Mahama
Succeeded byMatilda Amissah-Arthur
Personal details
Born
Lordina Effah

(1963-03-06) 6 March 1963
Nationality Ghanaian
Political partyNational Democratic Congress
Spouse(s)John Dramani Mahama
ResidenceFlagstaff House
Alma materGhana Institute of Management and Public Administration
De Montfort University

Prior to becoming First Lady, Lordina Mahama's husband served as a member of the Parliament of Ghana representing the Bole/Bamboi constituency during the 2000s.[2]

Early life

She was born Lordina Effah on March 6, 1963 by the late Mr. and Mrs. Effah. Lordina is from Jema-Ampoma in the Nkoranza District, located in the Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana. She is last of three kids.[3][4] She had her initial training in Tamale, Ghana at the Tishigu Anglican elementary school. She then proceeded to the Ghana Secondary School in Tamale, where she finished her GCE education. It was at Ghana Secondary School that Lordina met her future husband, John Dramani Mahama.[4]

Education and career

Lordina was a student at Flair Catering Services,[5] and received a four-year college education in Hospitality Management at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA)[1] She studied for a MA in Governance and Leadership at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).[6] Lordina Mahama was awarded a Master of Laws (LLM) in Business Law/International Business Law from the De Montfort University in the United Kingdom.[7]

Political appointments

As Second Lady

She became second lady when her husband the former President of the Republic of Ghana John Dramani Mahama became the Vice-President of Ghana to President John Evans Atta-Mills on 7 January 2009.

As First lady

In line with Ghana's constitution, her husband became President of Ghana on 24 July 2012 on the death of his predecessor, John Atta Mills and was sworn in Parliament in July, 2012, automatically making her the First Lady of the Republic of Ghana. In her tenure as First Lady, Lordina Mahama was also elected President of the Organisation of African First Ladies Against HIV and AIDS (OAFLA)[8] in June 2015. Before that, she had served as the Vice President for the West Africa Region of OAFLA.[9]

As President of the Organisation of African First Ladies Against HIV and AIDS (OAFLA), Mrs Lordina Mahama was honoured at the 50th International Women Luncheon of the Rainbow Push Coalition which took place in Chicago (USA) for her role and outstanding work in advocating for the destitute and vulnerable children in Africa and also in her role as president to empower women to take charge of their reproductive health rights, as well as end mother-to-child transmission of HIV.[10][11]

President Obama and First Lady Michelle greet President John Dramani Mahama and First Lady Lordina Dramani Mahama, in the Blue Room during a U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit at the White House, Aug. 5, 2014.

Personal life

Lordina is married to John Dramani Mahama and together they have five children named Shafik, Shahid, Sharaf, Jesse and Farida. She speaks English, Hausa, Dagbani and Twi fluently.[4]

Humanitarian works

Her charity,The Lordina Foundation has touched the lives of beneficiaries in different regions of Ghana. The motto of the Foundation is “The more we share, the more we have”. Donations are made especially around Christmas and at other periods in the year.[12]

Awards

The First Lady has a number of awards to her name and credit. These include:

  • Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, by the President and Trustees of the Fordham University.[13][14]
  • An award for campaign for cervical cancer, Maputo, Mozambique.[15]
  • Award for cervical cancer advocacy, Windhoek, Namibia[16]
  • Inducted into the Global Women Leaders Hall of Fame[16]
  • Global Inspiration Leadership Award at the Africa-Middle East-Asia summit in Dubai.[16]
  • Enstooled as Sompahemaa of the Nkoranza Traditional Area, with a stool title (Nana Akosua Fremaa Ampomah Sika I )[17]
  • Enstooled as Development Queen in Bodom in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana[18]
  • Enstooled as Development Queen in Ampoma in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana[18]
  • Enstooled Development Queen in Anloga in Kumasi, Ashanti region of Ghana.[19][20]

See also

References
  1. "Lordina Mahama to receive honorary doctorate". graphic.com.gh. 7 May 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  2. "He "was a bit wild" - John Mahama's wife". GhanaWeb. 15 April 2008. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  3. Boateng, Michael Ofori Amanfo. "Lordina Mahama, Samira Bawumia graduate with higher degrees". Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  4. Ghana, News (17 December 2012). "Up-Close With Lordina Mahama: First Lady Of The Republic Of Ghana". Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  5. "Ensure quality service in hospitality industry - Lordina". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  6. Boateng, Michael Ofori Amanfo. "Lordina Mahama, Samira Bawumia graduate with higher degrees". Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  7. "Lordina Mahama: Former First Lady graduates with Master of Laws". Graphic Online. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  8. "OAFLA". www.unaids.org. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  9. "The 1st & 2nd Lady's of Ghana ..." www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  10. "First Lady receives Humanitarian Award". Graphic Online. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  11. Adjorlolo, Ruth Abla. "Ghana's First Lady receives Humanitarian Award". www.gbcghana.com. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  12. "Lordina Foundation donates to orphanages". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 9 January 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  13. Allotey, Godwin Akweiteh (18 May 2015). "First Lady honoured with a doctorate degree". citifmonline. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  14. "Lordina Mahama Honoured With Doctorate Degree". www.ghanaembassy.org. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  15. "About the First Lady | First Lady Ghana". firstladygh.org. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  16. "First Lady to address Fordham University - The Ghanaian Times". www.ghanaiantimes.com.gh. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  17. Administrator. "First Lady Lordina Enstooled Sompahemaa Of Nkoranza Traditional Council". Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  18. "First Lady Lordina Mahama Enstooled As Development Queen At Bodom And Ampoma". News Ghana. 26 October 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  19. "Lordina Mahama: Former First Lady graduates with Master of Laws". Graphic Online. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  20. "Graphic Online". Retrieved 5 May 2020.
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