Accra Brewery considers shutdown over revised excise duty

Accra Brewery Limited is considering a shutdown of its operations following the implementation of a revised excise duty regime in Ghana. The new legislation, passed by Parliament, imposes an excise duty of between 7% and 15% on beer produced by local manufacturers.

Internal assessments suggest the new tax could result in a direct financial impairment of approximately US$7 million for the brewery. Industry stakeholders have expressed concern that the tax burden, combined with intense competition from imported products, could force local manufacturers to scale down production or implement worker layoffs.

Some industry players suggest that the impact might be more manageable if the full implementation of the tax is deferred until January 2027. The potential closure of the brewery could have broader economic implications for suppliers, distributors, and the wider beverage manufacturing sector in the country.