John Dramani Mahama won a new term as Ghana's president in Friday's election, after taking over the office in July following the sudden death of John Atta Mills.

Mr. Mahama had served as Ghana's 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 entering politics.

The 54-year-old leader is married with seven children.

His memoir, My First Coup d'Etat, was published in July.