Ghana has had five Presidents since 1992 – Jerry John Rawlings, John Agyekum Kofuor, John Evans Atta Mills, John Dramani Mahama and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Each of these presidents have had his difficult times with the people, in relation to policy choices, implementation and consequential effects.

Ghanaians, on the other hand, have also not treated these situations with kid gloves but, proverbially, would nicknamed the president to suit a particular situation.

Ghanalynk.com would analysis some of these nicknames, starting from the latter to the former.

President Akufo-Addo

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was voted into power in 2017. He had the opportunity to serve his second term in office, after winning the 2020 Presidential election.

Before ever getting the opportunity to serve in the highest office of the land, critics – opposition members and some of his party faithfuls alike – said he was arrogant and does not deserve to be President.

Against all odds, Akufo-Addo was voted massively to become president. Nevertheless, his critics had been quite busy with his leadership style, amid name calling and what have you.

Despite President Akufo-Addo referring to those critics as naysayers, the site, ghanalynk.com, has highlighted few notable nicknames addressed to him.

President Akufo-Addo number one critic, Kevin Taylor has referred to the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces as Half Mental (HM), Leleput (short man), clown and the entire NPP Government, as a Circus.

Communications Director of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Sammy Gyamfi has consistently described Mr Akufo-Addo as nepotistic, vindictive and tyrant.

Kwasi Kyei Darkwah (KKD), in his recent comment about President Akufo-Addo’s address on the current economic crisis, said the first gentleman of the land is in office but not in power.

A communication officer of NDC, Beatrice Annan Esq, said Ghanaians should not expect much from Akufo-Addo, since he could not make his parents proud while studying economics at the university.

A former Attorney-General and Special Prosecutor, Martin Alamisi Burnes Kaiser Amidu christened President Akufo-Addo as the “Mother serpent of corruption.”

J.J. Rawlings had also referred to Akufo-Addo as little tweak

Serwa Broni, shower in the sky and rental of luxurious presidential air craft can definitely not be taken from the list.

John Dramani Mahama

John Dramani Mahama is one of the few politicians who have served through the ranks to become president.

He was the Vice President to late President John Evans Fifi Atta Mills, Member of Parliament (MP) for Bole Bamboi, Minister for Communications and Deputy Minister for Communications.

Mr Mahama took the most important office in the country right after the demise of President Evans Atta Mills on July 24, 2012. He, subsequently, won the 2012 Presidential election to become president but lost the mandate in 2016 and 2020.

During his reign, one but interesting name tag that Mahama acquired was “The dead goat.”

Mr Mahama said has has developed a “dead goat syndrome” while addressing some Ghanaians on his official visit to Botswana in 2015.

Thus, goat carcass is not afraid of a knife, therefore, he was not moved or shakened by threats of strikes and demonstrations by the labour and students’ unions.

The most injurious and mutilating name tag that nearly affected Mr Mahama’s political career was “Papa no.”

“Papa no” means “sugar daddy”. Although it was not addressed to anybody specifically, he became the main target.

Similarly, the words such as unprecedented and gargantuan were made popular by Mahama’s appointees, to describe their achievements.

John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills

Professor John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills, after three failed attempts, was voted President in 2009. He had then served as a Vice President to Jerry John Rawlings.

He was accorded the “Father of Peace,” due to his subtle approach to governance.

Nevertheless, some of his party members could not stand him, particularly those who were not given appointments, and therefore, heavily bastardised him for using team

Other famous nicknames were “dzi wofie asem” meaning “focus on your internal matters,” and “economry.” He pronounced economy as “economry” while delivering the State of Nation Address (SONA).

John Agyekum Kofuor

John Agyekum Kofuor was President from 2001 to 2008. He first lost the competition against Jerry John Rawlings in the 1996.

Due to his physical structure and appearance, he was called “sexy eyes,” and “gentle giant.”

Mr Kofuor also mistook the word FIFA for “Fiva,” and it became his name.

The infamous “Waa waa,” “Kick-back” and corruption is as old as Adam are still fresh in our minds.

Jerry John Rawlings

Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings made it to the political scene as a coup leader before transition to democracy in 1992.

Accordingly, Flt Lt Rawlings is the first president of the Fourth Republic and the first born of the reign of the Johns.

In the 1990s, the criminal libel law was in force and the media space was very limited and censored, therefore, the government of the day couldn’t be criticised.

However, after J.J Rawlings left power in 2001, and the criminal libel law was repealed, a new chapter was opened to many Ghanaians to air their views.

With no time, J.J. Rawlings was now known as “Mr Boom,” “Parkinson’s disease,” and “Atta ayewo ni otwa tea.”