Lordina Mahama has been serving as the First Lady of Ghana since January 2025, following her initial term from 2012 to 2017. She is married to the President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, and before becoming First Lady, she held the role of Second Lady of Ghana from 2009 to 2012.

John Mahama, prior to his presidency, was a member of the Parliament of Ghana representing the Bole-Bamboi constituency from 1997 to 2008. Raised in Brong-Ahafo and Tamale in the Northern Region of Ghana, Lordina is a trained caterer and hospitality manager.

Lordina joined her husband on campaign trails for the 2008 elections when he was the running mate to John Atta Mills and again in the 2013 and 2017 elections, where he was the flagbearer for the National Democratic Congress, winning in 2013 but losing in 2017.

During her time as First Lady, she became a prominent role model for women in Ghana, advocating for HIV/AIDS awareness, breast and cervical cancer awareness, care for orphans, and support for individuals accused of witchcraft.

She currently serves as the President of the Lordina Mahama Foundation, a charity with the motto "The more we share, the more we have."

Early Life

Born Lordina Effah on March 6, 1963, to the late Mr. and Mrs. Effah, she hails from Jema-Ampoma in the Nkoranza District of the Brong East Region of Ghana.

The youngest of three children, she began her education at the Tishigu Anglican elementary school in Tamale, followed by Ghana Secondary School in Tamale, where she completed her GCE education.

It was during her time at Ghana Secondary School that she met her future husband, John Dramani Mahama.

Education and Career

Lordina Mahama pursued her education in hospitality management at Flair Catering Services and GIMPA, where she completed a four-year college program.

She graduated with a degree in Hospitality Management and in 2012, she earned her Master's of Arts in Governance and Leadership from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) and also holds a Master of Laws (LLM) in Business Law/International Business Law from De Montfort University in the United Kingdom, in 2019.

Political Roles

- Second Lady of Ghana (January 7, 2009 – July 2012)

- First Lady of Ghana (July 24, 2012 – January 7, 2017; January 7, 2025 – Present)

- OAFLA (June 2015)

- Advocate for HIV/AIDS and Breast/Cervical cancer awareness (July 21, 2015)

- Care for the underprivileged (May 2014, December 2016)

- Women's Empowerment through TVET

Personal Life

Lordina Mahama is married to John Dramani Mahama, and they have five children: Shafik, Shahid, Sharaf, Jesse, and Farida.

She is fluent in English, Hausa, Dagbani, and Twi, and she originates from the Nkoranza District in the Bono-Ahafo Region, now the Bono East Region.

Humanitarian Works

The Lordina Mahama Foundation has made significant contributions to various regions in Ghana.

The foundation focuses on charitable activities, particularly during Christmas and other times of the year, under the motto, "The more we share, the more we have."

Initiatives include care for rural areas (November 2024).

Tenure as First Lady of Ghana

As of 2026, Lordina Mahama is serving as the current First Lady of the Republic of Ghana, marking her second term officially from January 2025.

Across her two non-consecutive terms, she has served as First Lady for approximately 5 years and 7 months.

- First Term: July 24, 2012 – January 7, 2017

- Second Term: January 7, 2025 – Present

Honours and Recognition

Lordina Mahama has received several prestigious awards, including:

- Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Fordham University

- An award for her campaign on cervical cancer in Maputo, Mozambique

- Recognition for cervical cancer advocacy in Windhoek, Namibia

- Induction into the Global Women Leaders Hall of Fame

- Global Inspiration Leadership Award at the Africa-Middle East-Asia Summit in Dubai

- Enstoolment as Sompahemaa of the Nkoranza Traditional Area, with the title Nana Akosua Fremaa Ampomah Sika I

- Enstooled as Development Queen in Bodom, Brong Ahafo Region

- Enstooled as Development Queen in Ampoma, Brong Ahafo Region

- Enstooled as Development Queen in Anloga, Kumasi, Ashanti Region of Ghana

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