Iddrisu Mariam Aziz is a Ghanaian sign language interpreter and disability advocate. She is the official sign-language interpreter for Ghana's president John Dramani Mahama.
Early life and education Aziz grew up with parents who were deaf and learned sign language while communicating with them and assisting them in their interactions with the wider community. She later became involved with the Deaf Association, where she worked as an interpreter.
According to an interview published by YEN.com.gh in 2023, Aziz began interpreting at a young age and was involved in interpreting for organisations and individuals from the age of 14. Her involvement with the Deaf Association led to her meeting political organisers in the Bono Region and subsequently to opportunities to interpret for John Mahama during his political campaigns.
Aziz was a student at the University of Ghana and is currently pursuing a master's degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration.
Career Aziz's work as a sign-language interpreter has included political campaigns, public meetings and other engagements involving senior public figures. Her work with Mahama dates back to his political campaigns and continued during his 2024 presidential campaign. During Mahama's 2024 campaign, Aziz appeared alongside him at public events and interpreted his speeches into sign language.
Her visibility alongside Mahama has brought attention to the role of sign-language interpretation in political communication and public engagement with deaf and hard-of-hearing people in Ghana.
Disability advocacy In addition to her interpreting work, Aziz has been involved in disability advocacy. She has been associated with the AIM Trust Foundation, an organisation through which she has worked on issues affecting people with disabilities.
See also
Ghanaian Sign Language
References