Kofi Sam, Sharaf, Kimathi: The sons of former presidents crushing political headlines

GhanaWeb Feature by Etsey Atisu

It seems that within the National Democratic Congress (NDC), there is a notable trend where the children of its presidents are more likely to follow in their fathers’ footsteps compared to the children of presidents from other parties in the Fourth Republic.

The examples abound from those of the late Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, to the not-so-popular son of the late Professor John Evans Atta Mills, and then one of the sons of Ghana’s former president, John Dramani Mahama.

Perhaps too, it is a John thing, but that coincidence may just be too weird, but the fact remains that just as historic as it is, there has been a new trend of sons of the above-mentioned politicians showing face more than usual.

And when they have done so, they have been on political grounds.

One could argue that the children of the current president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, have also made appearances in politics. However, this argument is flawed because, unlike the sons discussed in this article, the president’s daughters were introduced to politics by their father.

With the sons of the former presidents at the fulcrum of this article, theirs seems to be a deliberate, seemingly non-privileged attempt to launch themselves into the political limelight, especially at the times their fathers are not the main spotlights politically.

So, as a way of tracking what they have been about, particularly in the last two years, GhanaWeb brings back some of their most popular public engagements, as well as share with readers some photos of these sons of the former presidents hitting the political grounds.

Sharaf Dramani Mahama:

Interestingly about the son of John Dramani Mahama, he is into sports and was a promising footballer at a point. Recently, however, he received license from FIFA as an official agent for the world football body.

Before becoming a certified FIFA Agent, Sharaf had been actively assisting talented players with their contracts and negotiations, gaining valuable experience in the field.

But in recent years, as the campaign season heats up, he has been seen on political platforms with his father, crisscrossing the country to sell the NDC message to the electorates.



That aside, he has initiated his own political activities, chief among them being a well-attended health walk recently at Tamale.

Sharaf Mahama, together with other notable politicians of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the northern parts of the country, and thousands of residents around the north, poured out on the streets for his ‘Healthy Hearts, Empowered Youth’ campaign.’

Also in attendance were Sharaf’s brother, Shafik Mahama; National and Regional Executives of the NDC, Members of Parliament (MPs) and Parliamentary Candidates (PCs) of the NDC, his friends and party supporters.

Similarly, at Damango on Friday, June 28, 2024, the Sharaf Mahama Foundation provided free health screening for 1,356 people made up of 622 and 734 males and females respectively as part of the ‘Savannah Soccer Tournament’.

And also at that health walk was Kofi Sam Atta Mills, son of the late former president, John Evans Atta Mills.



Kofi Sam Atta Mills:

In this list, Kofi Sam seems to be the least popular, having only been launched into the public limelight after the death of his father 12 years ago.

And while he has not entirely been consistently in the public space since then and now, he, however, has started showing up a lot on political platforms.

For instance, during the health walk organized by Sharaf Mahama, he was also present.

Walking side by side his ‘brother,’ Kofi Sam made, arguably, his first major political outing during this event.

And as if inspired by that, he also partnered with the running mate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, to organized a similar walk in the Central Region.

The peace walk was part of the anniversary celebrations of his late father.

Dubbed the Prof John Evans Atta Mills Peace Walk For Change, it was held at Cape Coast on Saturday, July 20, 2024.

Kofi Sam Atta Mills was joined by other big names in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the walk, including the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, among others.

Kimathi Agyeman-Rawlings:

Kimathi has been a known face in Ghana’s politics from as early as the days of his father’s presidency, but not in the ways Ghanaians are seeing him lately.

From showing up with his big sister, the Member of Parliament for Korle Klottey, Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, at public events, the only son of the former president also made a major showing at a political event over the past weekend.

This was during a campaign event for the flagbearer of the NDC, John Mahama, in Accra.

Joining his sister, Zanetor, on stage, the two pumped up the energies of the crowd gathered at Nungua.

While he did not say any words, his presence alone on the platform with his sister, who is more of the politician than he is, has gotten several people talking, adding to the conversations on sons of former presidents taking over politics in the country.

Factually, Nana Akufo-Addo is an example of a son who followed in the footsteps of his father to become a Head of State in Ghana, but could these public appearances of Sharaf Dramani Mahama, Kofi Sam Atta Mills, and Kimathi Agyeman-Rawlings be the roadmap to a repetition of another ‘inherited’ presidency in future?

The campaign atmosphere is heating up and with only under five (5) months to the general elections on December 7, 2024, could Ghanaians be seeing more of these young men?

And, how much of an influence could their involvements in the politics help with the chances of their candidate, John Dramani Mahama, to win back the presidency?