John Dramani Mahama elected head of ECOWAS

President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana upon taking over from President Alassane Dramane Ouatarra of Cote d'Ivoire
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The 44th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which ended Saturday in Yamoussoukro, the Ivorian political and administrative capital, elected President of Ghana John Dramani Mahama at the head of the sub-regional organization. 
"I am pleased to announce that yesterday the Heads of State have come together and decide to elect our brother, President John Dramani Mahama, as head of ECOWAS, "said the Ivorian Head of State, Alassane Ouattara. Mr. Ouattara, the outgoing Chairman of the West African organization was in a relaxed and jovial mood during his introduction of his Ghanaian successor. 
13 Heads of State of the 15 that make up the ECOWAS participated in the 44th Ordinary Session . Cape Verde and Togo were represented by their Prime Ministers.

President John Dramani Mahama was born November 29, 1958 at Damongo Ghana, a communications consultant by profession, he is a product of the ruling National Democratic Congress. Regularly voted member since 1997, he was Minister of Communication of President Jerry Rawlings (1998-2001) before being elected Vice-President of the Republic on 28 December 2008 alongside John Atta-Mills. 

With the sudden death of John Atta-Mills, John Mahama replaced the late President July 24, 2012 for the period until the presidential elections of December 2012, as required by the Ghanaian Constitution.  As candidate of the NDC, John Mahama was re-elected President of the Republic of Ghana on December 7, 2012 and was sworn in on January 7, 2013, despite a legal challenge from the opposition led by Nana Akufo-Addo regarding the constitutionality of Mahama's succession to power, the Ghana Supreme Court confirmed 29 August 2013 of his election as Ghana's Head of State.

Father of 7 children, the 24th President of the ECOWAS faithful of the Church of the Assemblies of God, John Mahama is the third Head of State of Ghana directing the sub-regional organization after Jerry Rawlings (1994-1996) and John Kufuor (2003-2005).
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