Home - The family ties behind these prominent Ghanaian political figures

Ghana’s political history features several families where leadership has passed from one generation to the next.

From Presidents and Vice‑Presidents to Members of Parliament and party stalwarts, many figures have followed in the footsteps of parents who had already established themselves in politics.

While some of these families have remained within the same political tradition, others have produced members with different political affiliations and trajectories.

Here are some notable examples.

John Dramani Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama comes from a family with a political history dating back to Ghana’s First Republic.

His father, Emmanuel Adama Mahama, was a teacher, farmer and politician who served as the first Member of Parliament for West Gonja. He later served as Northern Regional Commissioner under President Kwame Nkrumah.

John Mahama followed his father into active politics and was elected MP for Bole-Bamboi in 1996.

He subsequently served as Vice-President from 2009 to 2012 and became President in 2013. After serving one term, he returned to the presidency in January 2025 and is currently Ghana’s President.

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo

Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was born into one of Ghana’s most prominent political families.

His father, Edward Akufo-Addo, was a member of the independence-era political establishment and one of the figures associated with Ghana’s early constitutional development.

He later served as Chief Justice before becoming President of the Second Republic.

Nana Akufo-Addo followed his father into politics, becoming an NPP MP,minister and eventually president of Ghana in 2017.

3. Mahamudu Bawumia

Former Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is another prominent example of a politician whose father was active in politics.

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His father, Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia, was a teacher, lawyer and politician. He was associated with the Northern People's Party and later the United Party tradition and held public positions, including Chairman of the Council of State.

Mahamudu Bawumia subsequently became an NPP politician, serving as the party’s running mate in three presidential elections before becoming Vice-President from 2017 to 2025.

4. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings

Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings is the daughter of the late former President Jerry John Rawlings.

Rawlings founded the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and served as Ghana’s Head of State before becoming the first President of the Fourth Republic, serving from 1993 to 2001.

Zanetor followed her father into NDC politics and won the Korle Klottey parliamentary seat in 2016. She has retained the seat and is currently a Member of Parliament. She is also the Minister for Environment, Science and Technology

5. Mahama Ayariga

Mahama Ayariga is another serving parliamentarian whose political roots can be traced to his father.

His father, Frank Abdulai Ayariga, was a politician who represented Bawku in the Third Republic under President Hilla Limann.

Mahama Ayariga later entered politics himself and became Menber of Parliament for Bawku Central. He is also the Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs and a former Majority Leader in Parliament.

6. Charles Asiedu

Charles Asiedu represents one of the more recent examples of a political family continuing into a new generation.

He is the son of Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the National Chairman of the NDC and a long-serving figure in the party.

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Charles Asiedu entered parliamentary politics with the NDC and won the Tano South seat in the 2024 election.

He is now a Member of Ghana’s Ninth Parliament, representing Tano South.

7. Mohammed Adamu Ramadan

Mohammed Adamu Ramadan is the son of former People's National Congress Chairman Alhaji Ahmed Ramadan, who also served as Ghana’s ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.

Mohammed Ramadan followed his father into partisan politics and was elected MP for Adentan.

He retained the seat in the 2024 election and is currently the MP for Adentan.

8. Farouk Aliu Mahama

Farouk Aliu Mahama followed his father, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, into politics.

Aliu Mahama served as Vice-President under President John Agyekum Kufuor from 2001 to 2009.

Farouk later entered parliamentary politics and represented Yendi in Parliament, continuing the family’s political association with the constituency and the Northern Region.

He, however, lost the seat to the NDC candidate in the 2024 elections.

9 Sheila Bartels

Sheila Bartels followed her father, Kwamena Bartels, into parliamentary politics.

Kwamena Bartels represented Ablekuma North in Parliament and served in ministerial positions during the administration of former President John Kufuor.

His daughter Sheila was elected MP for Ablekuma North on the NPP ticket in 2020.

She served one term in Parliament before losing the party’s parliamentary primary ahead of the 2024 election.

10. Mike Oquaye Jnr

Mike Oquaye Jnr is the son of former Speaker of Parliament Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye.

His father represented Dome-Kwabenya in Parliament and held several public positions, including High Commissioner, minister and Speaker of Parliament.

Mike Oquaye Jnr also became involved in NPP politics and has pursued a political career of his own, including seeking the party’s parliamentary nomination in Dome-Kwabenya.