Ghana’s Parliament has approved the three revenue bills – the Income Tax Amendment, the Excise Duty Amendment and the Growth and Sustainability Amendment Bills.

The Excise Duty Amendment levy imposes new excise duty at 20 per cent for non-alcoholic sweetened beverages, from 17.5 per cent to 20 per cent excise duty on mineral water, 45 per cent of duty for wines, including sparkling wine and 50 per cent for spirits, all at ex-factory prices, was not appropriate.

The Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL) expressed concerns that this levy would increase the cost of production, which would be transferred to the final consumer.

“The proposed 50% excise duty on spirits can be imposed on imported spirits only to allow local industry to grow.

“Maintain the current excise duty on malts but exempt mineral water from the excise as the beverage industries have been under pressure from the harsh business climate, ” he said.

“Indeed, if the principle of introducing cost to discourage consumption and its adverse consequences hold true, the increased cost will as well lower demand and, therefore, the expected revenue projection is not likely to be realized,” he said.