Alhaji Aliu Mahama was born on March 3, 1946, in Yendi in the Northern Region of Ghana, into the Dagbon royal family. He grew up in a traditional Muslim household where discipline, service, and respect for leadership were instilled in him. He attended Government Secondary School in Tamale (now Tamale Secondary School), where he distinguished himself as a hardworking student and sports enthusiast. He later gained admission to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), where he studied Building Technology. His professional training laid the foundation for his career as a civil engineer and contractor.

After completing his studies, Aliu Mahama worked with the State Construction Corporation before venturing into private practice. He established his own civil engineering and construction firm, LIDRA Limited, which handled several infrastructural projects across Ghana. Through his work, he earned a reputation for efficiency, discipline, and integrity. In addition to his professional career, he actively contributed to community development in the Northern Region, often supporting education, health, and youth programs. His prominence as a technocrat and community leader gradually brought him into the political space.

He was married to Hajia Ramatu Mahama, the daughter of prominent politician Imoru Egala. Together they raised a family including their son Farouk Aliu Mahama, who later became Member of Parliament for Yendi and board chair of the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Corporation. In other records, it’s noted they had five children.

In 2000, Aliu Mahama was chosen as the running mate of John Agyekum Kufuor on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). When the NPP won the general elections, he became Ghana’s first Muslim Vice President, serving from January 2001 to January 2009. During his tenure, he was widely respected for his humility, discipline, and advocacy for national unity. He played a key role in promoting youth development and launched the Campaign for Greater Discipline, which aimed to instill values of responsibility and orderliness in Ghanaian society. His service was marked by loyalty to President Kufuor, diplomacy in addressing national issues, and efforts to bridge ethnic and religious divides in Ghana’s governance.

In late 2007, Aliu Mahama stepped forward as a contender for the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presidential candidacy, though he received only around 6 % of the delegate votes at the party convention and did not secure the nomination. Following this unsuccessful bid, he retired from active politics.

After leaving office in 2009, Aliu Mahama remained a respected elder statesman, continuing to contribute to national discourse and supporting the growth of young leaders within the NPP and beyond. He stayed active in charitable work, particularly in education and community development in the Northern Region. However, his health began to decline in 2012. On November 16, 2012, Alhaji Aliu Mahama passed away at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra at the age of 66, after a short illness. His death was widely mourned across Ghana, cutting across political, ethnic, and religious lines.

Alhaji Aliu Mahama is remembered as a pioneering statesman who rose from the Northern Region to occupy the second-highest office in Ghana. His advocacy for discipline, development, and inter-religious harmony continues to inspire Ghanaian leaders. The Aliu Mahama Foundation, established in his memory, works to promote education, youth development, and social progress, ensuring that his vision for a disciplined and united Ghana lives on.