TEMA, Ghana, 26th July: The Secretary-General of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Abraham Koomson, has welcomed the government’s decision to abolish the 20 percent excise duty on locally manufactured fruit juices, describing the move as a significant boost for local industry and agro-processing.
Speaking on Ahotor FM’s Yepe Ahunu programme, Mr. Koomson praised the government for responding to concerns raised by industry players, saying the tax removal would ease the burden on local manufacturers and strengthen Ghana’s manufacturing sector.
Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson announced the abolition of the tax on July 23, 2026, during the presentation of the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review in Parliament.
The 20 percent excise duty had been imposed on locally produced fruit juices in 2023.
According to Mr. Koomson, the policy reversal will support agro-processing, promote domestic manufacturing, enhance the competitiveness of locally produced fruit juices against imported alternatives, and create more employment opportunities across the value chain.
He noted that removing the tax would also reduce operational costs for local juice manufacturers, enabling them to expand production and invest in business growth.
While commending the government for the decision, Mr. Koomson urged authorities to go a step further by reviewing what he described as “nuisance taxes” that continue to place a heavy burden on businesses.
He specifically called for the removal or review of the fumigation levy, the Import Declaration Form (IDF) levy, and the proposed cargo levy, arguing that eliminating such charges would further improve the business environment, lower production costs, and accelerate Ghana’s industrialisation agenda.
Mr. Koomson stressed that reducing unnecessary taxes is essential to making local industries more competitive, attracting investment, and creating sustainable jobs for Ghanaians.
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites✍️)/ Presidential Affairs Correspondent | Ghana 🇬🇭