Ghana advocacy group urges reconsideration of fruit juice tax removal

Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development (VAST Ghana) has called on the Ministry of Finance to reconsider the decision to remove a 20 per cent excise tax on locally produced fruit juices under the Excise Tax Act 2026.

The organization warned that the exemption could undermine public health objectives and weaken fiscal policy intended to prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs). VAST Ghana noted that fruit juices are not inherently healthy alternatives to other sugar-sweetened beverages, as their sugar content can be high depending on processing and composition.

Furthermore, the group expressed concern regarding the potential impact on healthcare financing, specifically mentioning the Ghana Medical Trust Fund and the Free Primary Health Care Policy. They also requested greater clarity on the specific criteria used to define which products qualify for the exemption to avoid unintended consequences for public health and domestic revenue mobilization.