President John Dramani Mahama has reflected on a painful episode from his youth, revealing that he endured recurring nightmares as a teenager after his father was detained following Ghana’s 1966 coup.
He made the disclosure in Arusha, Tanzania, while speaking at the opening of the 2026 Judicial Year and the 20th anniversary of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The gathering brought together judges, legal scholars, policymakers and human rights advocates from across Africa to examine the continent’s justice systems — their gains and their gaps.
Framing his remarks around the need to safeguard judicial independence and protect human rights, President Mahama shared how national political upheaval deeply affected him personally.
“As a teenager, I often dreamt of my father standing before judges awaiting the decision on his fate. He was detained once and faced the risk twice more, and this fear led to recurring nightmares about him.
“My father was a minister in Kwame Nkrumah’s government, and immediately after the coup, he and others were asked to report to the police station for their own safety. He was interrogated and taken into custody for over a year.
“By 1974, Ghana experienced another coup by Colonel I.K. Acheampong. By that time, my father had become a private citizen, working as a rice farmer and agribusinessman, with no involvement in politics.”
Mahama’s father served in the administration of Kwame Nkrumah, whose government was toppled on February 24, 1966. In the aftermath of the coup, several officials linked to the Nkrumah era were arrested, questioned and, in many cases, detained for extended periods.
The President’s reflections cast a human light on a turbulent chapter in Ghana’s history, reminding his audience that beyond constitutional debates and courtrooms, political instability leaves lasting imprints on families and futures.
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