Prez Mahama recounts post-2016 struggles: “There was a time we had nowhere to stay”

President John Dramani Mahama has opened up about a little-known and difficult chapter of his life after losing the 2016 general elections, revealing that he and his wife, Lordina Mahama, briefly faced a period of housing uncertainty after leaving office.

Speaking at a community engagement at Chain Homes Estate, Mr Mahama disclosed that contrary to public perception, no immediate state accommodation was available for him after his tenure ended.

He explained that the couple’s private residence at the time was neither suitable for official engagements nor readily accessible, as it had already been rented out.

Reflecting on the moment, Mahama said the loss was emotionally overwhelming, compounded by the sudden reality of not having a place to live.

“We lost the elections. We thought the world had come to an end, and the understanding was that as a former president, the state would provide accommodation,” he recalled.

He explained that although they owned a house, it was a modest and aging structure that could not host dignitaries or serve any official purpose. In addition, the house had been leased to tenants, making it impractical to reclaim immediately.

“We were a young couple. We had built a house, but it was a small, old house. You couldn’t host any head of state there. Besides, we had rented it out. Some Chinese were living in it, and you couldn’t just ask them to leave because you had lost an election,” he said.

As a result, the couple began searching for rental accommodation in parts of Accra, including Kawukudi and Airport Hills. According to Mahama, several promising options fell through once landlords discovered his identity.

In one instance, he said, his wife successfully negotiated and secured a livable apartment, only for the landlord to rescind the offer after realising the prospective tenant was a former president who had just lost power.

“For the first time, they realised, ah, it’s the former president who has lost the election and is coming to stay here. The next day, they said it was company accommodation and that one of their managers was returning from abroad to occupy it,” he recounted.

In some cases, the couple even paid rent and received official receipts, only to have the money returned the following day with fresh excuses.

Mr Mahama said the experience taught him valuable lessons about humility and resilience, stressing that difficult moments in life are often temporary.

He used his personal story to encourage others facing hardship not to lose hope, noting that setbacks do not mean one has been abandoned, but rather form part of life’s journey.