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Claim: Ghanaian historian Yaw Anokye Frimpong claims President John Dramani Mahama had held the country’s State Sword four times.
Verdict: False! DUBAWA’s investigations showed Mahama had publicly held the country’s Presidential authority and leadership symbol three times, not four, as the historian alleged. He held the State Sword in 2012 after the death of the then-Ghanaian President John Evans Atta-Mills, in 2013 when he was first elected President, and in 2025 after staging a successful comeback as a second-term President. The State Sword, called OmanAkomfowa, is held only by elected Presidents, not Vice Presidents.
Full Text
Yaw Anokye Frimpong, a Ghanaian historian, claimed President John Mahama had held the country’s State Sword four times.
The State Sword is the symbol of the country’s Presidential authority and leadership and is held by elected Presidents.
The first Ghanaian President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, officially held the State Sword in 1960 when he was sworn in.
The State Sword, made of solid gold, is moulded after the Akan cultural symbol, Afena-nta, which means twin/double-bladed royal cutlass.
Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, held the State Sword when he took the Oath of Office in 1960. Photo credit: Crosscheckghana
John Dramani Mahama took his third Oath of Office after securing a convincing comeback in the Dec. 7, 2024, Presidential election.
However, a Ghanaian lawyer and historian, Yaw Ankokye, alleged Mahama had held the State Sword four times.
“When you are put on the seat as President, you are given the State Sword. Mahama has held it four times,” he told Accra-based Max TV Ghana in the Twi dialect on Feb. 12, 2025.
The social media platform data showed the video posted on YouTube had over 6,086 views as of Feb. 17, 2025.
Investigating this claim is crucial since it can push the narrative that elected Ghanaian Vice Presidents hold the State Sword to take their Oath of Office. The claimant made a similar claim here.
DUBAWA decided to probe the claim to set the record straight and break any misinformation and disinformation trend it will start in Ghana.
Verification
DUBAWA’s research revealed that John Mahama had publicly held the country’s Presidential authority and leadership symbol three times, not four, as the historian alleged.
Available data showed Mahama held the State Sword in 2012 when he was sworn in as President after the death of the then-Ghanaian President John Evans Atta-Mills.
Atta-Mills, the third Ghanaian President in the country’s Fourth Republic, died on July 24, 2012, after suffering from throat cancer.
His Vice President, John Mahama, was sworn in as President to complete Mills’ unexpired first term, ending Jan. 7, 2012.
Again, Mahama held the State Sword in 2013 when he was elected President to serve his official first term.
He defeated ex-President Nana Akufo-Addo in a closely fought election on Dec. 7, 2012, leading to a protracted presidential dispute. The Supreme Court, however, affirmed his victory at the polls.
Finally, he held the State Sword in 2025 after staging a successful comeback as a second-term President.
Mahama defeated the then-ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, with over one million votes in an election many pollsters predicted would be closely contested.
The State Sword, called OmanAkomfowa, is held only by elected Presidents, not Vice Presidents.
Conclusion
Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama had not held the country’s State Sword four times, as the historian Yaw Anokye Frimpong alleged.
