Major Maxwell Adam Mahama was born on 1 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 Maxwell started Nursery school and Kindergarten.