Major Maxwell Adam Mahama was born on 1st November 1985 in Bole to Captain Dennis Mahama Adam and Veronica Bamford.
He was the first of three children to the couple. When he was a year and half old, his family relocated to Samreboi after his father got an appointment as a Security Officer in Africa Timber and Plywood Ghana Ltd. It was there that Maxwell started Nursery school and Kindergarten.
In 1991, the family moved to Takoradi as once again his father got an appointment with Cocoa Processing Company (Taksi). There, he started his primary school at Services Primary school, but due to his over attachment to friends his father moved him to boarding school; Rev John Teye Memorial School for class two primary education. In 1992, his father took up another appointment with VRA and the family moved once more to Akosombo and this enabled Maxwell to enjoy some stability by continuing his basic education through to Junior Secondary School in Akosombo International School.
During this period of stability, Maxwell flourished taking up interest in the Arts in the form of Dancing, Acting, and Acrobatics. He was a lead performer in the Children’s Television show “Kokroko” which was hosted by Madam Otiko Djaba now the Minister for Gender and Social Protection. It was also during this period that he developed his love for sports partaking in swimming, volley, and football. He, however, got injured playing football and it took his interest away from the sport for a while.
After his BECE, he gained admission to St John’s Senior Secondary School in Sekondi for his Senior Secondary School Education. On completion of Senior Secondary, he gained admission to both the University of Science and Technology and the Ghana Military Academy. But after several consultations with his parents, Maxwell opted to enlist into the Army and entered the Ghana Military Academy on 6 October 2005 as part of Regular Career Course intake 47. After 22 months of training, he was commissioned into the Ghana Army on 7 September 2007 as a Second Lieutenant and was posted to the 5 Infantry Battalion as a Platoon Commander.
During his short but illustrious military career, he rose through the ranks to become a Captain serving in various capacities both at home and abroad such as Platoon Commander in Lebanon from November 2008 to May 2009, Adjutant United Nations Operation in Cote d’Ivoire from August 2011 to March 2012, Military information officer of the United Nations Mission in Liberia from July 2013 to January 2014 and Company Commander 5 infantry Battalion from January 2014 till his death.
He also had the opportunity to do a few militaries and civilian courses amongst these were: Regimental Signal Officers/Instructors Course, Young Officers Course, Public Procurement Course and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History from the University of Ghana in 2014.
Until his demise, he was pursuing a Master’s Degree from the University of Leicester and was due to graduate in July. He had a strong desire and high hopes of achieving greater feats up the academic ladder.
He met his wife Barbara, a course mate, whiles pursuing his degree in the University of Ghana. They got married in 2012 and she bore him two sons Jaden and Jeremiah. Maxwell could be described as a very family oriented person as he showed pride and joy in his family.
On the personal side. Maxwell was a jovial and easy going person. He loved God, playing an active role in the church and he was a very professional soldier who loved to keep lit. He was also a pet lover and a very compassionate person.
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Death of Major Maxwell Adam Mahama
Maxwell, while on official duties as a Detachment Commander at Denkyira-Obuasi met his untimely death at the hand of a mob on 29 May 2017. He was battered, stoned and burnt by residents of Denkyira-Obuasi in the Central Region while he had gone for his usual early morning physical exercise.
From the video of the gruesome incident circulated on social media, the fallen soldier, known to be gentle and decent is seen, surrendering his weapon before the mob carried out their dastardly act. The mob later claimed they mistook him for an armed robber because he carried a weapon.
President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo promoted Maxwell posthumously to the substantive rank of Major on 5th June 2017.
