According to him, he does not have even 2 million dollars in his account.

The former President said this in an interview on Power 98.7 FM in South Africa after a caller sought to verify whether or not he was worth 900 million dollars.

“900 million dollars? I wish... Never, [I am] nowhere near [that] and in Ghana there is an asset declaration regime, where you declare your assets when you go into office…and I have declared my assets. I am absolutely nowhere near that,” he said.

Mr Mahama also used the opportunity to debunk claims that he enriched himself during his presidency; adding that some people have confused him with his brother, Ibrahim Mahama, Chief Executive Officer of Engineers and Planners.

“I am not anywhere near even 2 million dollars to talk about 900 million dollars. Often my brother is confused with me. My brother is a businessman. He has his assets and I have no interest in his business and I don’t own shares in his business,” he said.

According to the former President, he makes his money through farming and royalties earned from his book, My First Coup d’état.

“I am a farmer, I have published a book and I have earned royalties from my book and I earn from my farm and that is it, I live a very modest life.”

Mr Mahama is in South Africa to receive the African Leaders Magazine's African Political Leader of the Year Award.