John Dramani Mahama was sworn in as Ghana's interim president Tuesday following the sudden death of John Atta Mills.

Mr. Mahama has served as vice president since 2009. He previously held the position of minister of communications and was a three-term parliamentarian for Ghana's Bole-Bamboi constituency in the country's north.

Mr. Mahama graduated from the University of Ghana with a degree in history and taught at the secondary school level before his entering politics.

The 53-year-old leader is married with seven children.

His memoir, My First Coup d'Etat, was published earlier this month.