ACCRA – The Deputy Minister for Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, has announced that locally manufactured fruit juices will no longer attract excise duty.
This forms part of Parliament’s approval of the Excise Bill, 2026, which removes excise duty on locally made fruit juices. The reform aims to make products more affordable, encourage healthier consumer choices, and strengthen Ghana’s agro-processing sector.
Key Provisions In The New Bill
Presenting the Bill in Parliament on Tuesday, Mr. Ampem explained that the law also establishes a comprehensive framework for assessing and collecting excise duty on selected imported and locally manufactured excisable goods.
The mandatory use of Excise Tax Stamps on excisable products has been retained to improve compliance and revenue administration.
On beverages, the Bill introduces an incentive-based excise regime.
> “We are introducing a sliding scale for use of raw materials so that the more raw materials you source locally to produce beer and other drinks, the lower the rate of excise duty goes,” he said.
The policy is designed to stimulate demand for locally produced agricultural commodities while reducing manufacturers’ dependence on imported inputs.
On juices specifically:
> “We are removing taxes on juices, local juices that are produced here, and so our Blue Skies, our Akumfi juice factory, will all be zero-rated. That will bring the prices low, and it will encourage us to shift from the consumption of alcohol to fruit juices because we want to promote good health,” Mr. Ampem stated.
Industry Reaction
The Chairman of the Food and Beverages Association of Ghana (FABAG), John Awuni, has commended the government for abolishing the 20% excise duty on locally manufactured fruit juices.
Speaking on Adom FM’s _Dwaso Nsem_, Mr. Awuni described it as a major boost for local production, investment and job creation.
He said the decision was long overdue, noting that FABAG had consistently opposed the levy since it was introduced because it discouraged local production, affected employment and failed to generate expected revenue.
> “First of all, I want to strongly commend the Finance Minister and, for that matter, the NDC government for abolishing the 20% excise tax on fruit juices,” he said.
_By Kofi Nartey | Daily Newsflash_
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What this means for you: Expect lower prices for local brands like Blue Skies, Akumfi, etc. And manufacturers who use more Ghanaian fruits will also pay less tax on beer/other drinks.
