President Mahama wasn't my friend at first - Julius Debrah

The Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, has revealed that his now close relationship with President John Dramani Mahama did not start as a friendship.

According to him, he was simply an employee who one day got a call that changed everything.

Debrah said this at his 60th birthday thanksgiving service held at the Pentecost Church, Trasacco Branch, on Sunday, April 26, 2026, an event attended by President Mahama, Vice President Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, the Chairman of the Council of State, and several other heads of institutions.

"To be very honest with you, he wasn't my friend. I was just his worker. And then one day, he decided to make me his local government minister. So, that was the first time that I had a very close encounter with him," Debrah told the congregation.

He recalled approaching the president upon his appointment for clarity.

"I went to ask him, 'Your Excellency, please, what exactly do you want me to do at local government?' And then he gave me my marching orders. Ever since, we became friends," he narrated.

Debrah went on to share an interesting detail about the depth of that friendship.

"Anywhere in this country where they have a private residence, when we travel, he ensures that I stay in the same house with him. They never allow me to stay in a hotel. And even when we stay in a hotel, he ensures that either my room is next to his or my room is directly opposite him," he said.

He expressed deep gratitude to the president for the role he has played in shaping his life and career, stating, "Mr President, thank you for making me who I am today."

Debrah also paid tribute to First Lady Lordina Mahama, describing her as a grounding presence in his life.

"What I like about her is that anytime I'm veering off, she calls me and says, 'If nobody will tell you, me I will tell you.' And so we've become like siblings," he added.

The Chief of Staff was visibly moved by the turnout of senior government officials at his celebration, saying the presence of his bosses on such a personal occasion meant a great deal to him.



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