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Claim: Several accounts on social media have put out statements claiming the Secretary to the President of Ghana, Mr Callistus Mahama, PhD, is a family member of President John Dramani Mahama.
Verdict: False! Checks by DUBAWA indicate that though Mr Callistus bears the same surname as President John Mahama, he is not a family member of Mahama.
Full Text
President-Elect John Dramani Mahama, under the provisions of the Presidential (Transition) Act, 2012 (ACT 845), appointed the following personalities as members of the 2024 Transition Team before his swearing-in ceremony on January 7, 2025.
The team collaborated closely with representatives of the outgoing government to ensure a seamless transfer of political power to the incoming administration.
The list included Julius Debrah, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey, and Dr Callistus Mahama– Member/Secretary to the Transition Team.
The list continued with Dr Valerie Sawyer, Prof Kwamena Ahwoi, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Mahama Ayariga, Augustus Tanoh, and Dr Edward Omane Boamah.
Additionally, the President-Elect then nominated Edward Doe Adjaho as a member of the transitional Advisory Council.
Following these appointments, some circulating rumours suggest that a supposed family relationship with the president-elect influenced the appointment of Dr Callistus Mahama.
On January 6, 2025, a day before the swearing-in event, Sirr Muzzammil, an account on Facebook, described Callistus Mahama as President Mahama’s direct brother, adding that they share the same father.
Similarly, General Buhari, a pro-NPP activist who calls himself a fact-checker, youth activist, PR officer, farmer, and researcher, got over 200,000 views on X making a similar claim.
He wrote, “JUST IN… John Mahama appointed his brother, Dr Callistus Mahama, as executive secretary to the president. Family & friends in the offing?”
One of the comments under the post written by user Pompii, with the handle @Pompii81555, replied, “That’s absolutely fine. If Addo can do it, he can.”
Another X user, Agyemang-Prempeh, with the username @agyempre, also said: @JDMahama, you have appointed your brother as the Executive Secretary, and where are you fixing @JoyceBawahMogtari? Have you also started family and friends you seriously criticised?
The allegations have sparked discussions in some sections of the media, prompting DUBAWA to investigate. Some of the allegations can be seen here, here and here.
Verification
Using a simple Google keyword search, it was noted that Joyce Bawah Mogtari, Special Aide to President John Dramani Mahama, has dismissed claims that Dr Callistus Mahama, a member of the President-elect’s transitional team, is a relative of Mr Mahama.
In a Facebook post on Thursday, December 12, 2024, Joyce Bawah Mogtari clarified that Dr Callistus Mahama was selected for the transitional team based on his expertise and track record in governance and public administration.
She categorically stated that there are no familial ties between the two individuals, describing the assertions as baseless.
Also, research by DUBAWA reveals that President Mahama and Dr Callistus Mahama are from two extreme ends of Gonjaland—the former from the Western part of Gonja (Bole-Damongo), while the latter is from the Eastern Part of Gonjaland (Kafaba). So, the allegation of ‘family and friends’ appointments cannot hold on such weak ground.
Conclusion
The claims circulating on social media that Dr Callistus Mahama is a family member of President John Dramani Mahama are false.
