ana ▁from ▁ 7 ▁January ▁ 2 0 0 1 ▁to ▁ 7 ▁January ▁ 2 0 0 9 . ▁A ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁New ▁Patri otic ▁Party , ▁he ▁was ▁Gh ana ' s ▁first ▁Muslim ▁Vice - Pres ident . ▁ ▁Life ▁and ▁career ▁An ▁eth nic ▁D ag om ba , ▁Ali u ▁Mah ama ▁as ▁a ▁young ▁man ▁studied ▁at ▁the ▁Government ▁Second ary ▁School ▁in ▁Tam ale ▁from ▁ 1 9 6 0 ▁to ▁ 1 9 6 7 ▁for ▁his ▁Ord inary ▁and ▁Advanced ▁Level ▁Cert ific ates . ▁He ▁proceeded ▁to ▁the ▁K w ame ▁N k rum ah ▁University ▁of ▁Science ▁and ▁Technology , ▁K um asi ▁from ▁ 1 9 6 7 ▁to ▁ 1 9 7 1 ▁where ▁he ▁obtained ▁the ▁B . Sc . ▁in ▁Building ▁Technology . ▁ ▁He ▁started ▁his ▁working ▁career ▁at ▁the ▁Bol gat anga ▁regional ▁office ▁of ▁the ▁State ▁Const ruction ▁Corporation ▁as ▁an ▁Engine er / Const ruction ▁from ▁ 1 9 7 2 ▁to ▁ 1 9 7 5 . ▁ ▁He ▁was ▁promoted ▁to ▁Ass istant ▁Regional ▁Manager ▁and ▁posted ▁to ▁the ▁K of or id ua ▁Regional ▁Office ▁of ▁the ▁Corporation ▁from ▁ 1 9 7 5 ▁to ▁ 1 9 7 6 . ▁ ▁He ▁held ▁the ▁position ▁of ▁Regional ▁Manager ▁in ▁charge ▁of ▁the ▁Northern ▁Region , ▁Tam ale ▁from ▁June ▁ 1 9 7 6 ▁to ▁August ▁ 1 9 8 2 . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 8 2