John Dramani Mahama is the current President of the Republic of Ghana, having assumed office on 7 January 2025 for a non-consecutive second term. As head of state, he recently assented to legislation abolishing the 10% betting, gaming, and lottery winnings tax, a significant regulatory change in the iGaming industry.
Mahama began his political career as a Member of Parliament for Bole-Bamboi from 1997 to 2009, and served as Deputy Minister for Communications (1997–1998) and later Minister for Communications (1998–2001). He was Vice President under John Atta Mills from 2009 until Mills' death in July 2012, at which point Mahama assumed the presidency.
He won a full term in December 2012 and served as President until 2017, also chairing the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) from 2013 to 2015. After losing the 2016 election, Mahama returned to win the 2024 election and was inaugurated in January 2025, making him the first Ghanaian head of state to serve two non-consecutive democratic terms.
In the iGaming space, his administration's abolition of the 10% betting tax has been widely covered by industry media, marking a pivotal moment for gambling regulation in West Africa.
Career History
| Company | Role | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Government Of Malta | Deputy Minister for Communications | 1997-01-01 – 1998-01-01 |
| Government Of Malta | Minister for Communications | 1998-01-01 – 2001-01-01 |
| Government Of Malta | Vice President of the Republic of Ghana | 2009-01-01 – 2012-01-01 |
| Government Of Malta | President of the Republic of Ghana | – present |