President John Dramani Mahama has assented to 10 Bills passed by Parliament, giving legal effect to a range of reforms covering taxation, revenue mobilisation, justice administration, national defence, maritime regulation and the cocoa sector.
The Bills were among 12 pieces of legislation approved by Parliament during the Second Meeting of the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament, which ended on July 31, 2026.
The presidential assent formally transforms the Bills into laws, paving the way for the relevant state institutions and agencies to begin implementing their provisions.
The newly enacted laws are:
- Customs Act, 2026
- Community Service Act, 2026
- Tribunals Act, 2026
- Maritime and Related Offences Act, 2026
- National Defence University, Ghana Act, 2026
- Income Tax (Amendment) Act, 2026
- Energy Sector Levies (Amendment) Act, 2026
- Ghana Cocoa Board Act, 2026
- Value Added Tax (Amendment) Act, 2026
- Excise Act, 2026
The legislation covers several important areas of national development, including government revenue, taxation, international trade, justice delivery, national security, maritime activities and the regulation of the cocoa sector.
Focus on taxation and revenue
Among the newly enacted laws are amendments to the Income Tax, Value Added Tax, Excise and Energy Sector Levies regimes.
These laws are expected to shape the government’s approach to taxation and revenue mobilisation, while providing a revised legal framework for the collection and administration of various taxes and levies.
The Customs Act, 2026 is also expected to have implications for the regulation of imports and exports and the administration of customs-related activities.
Meanwhile, the new Community Service Act and Tribunals Act are expected to contribute to reforms in justice administration and dispute resolution.
The enactment of the National Defence University, Ghana Act provides a statutory framework for the establishment and operation of the institution, while the Maritime and Related Offences Act addresses offences and regulatory matters within Ghana’s maritime space.
The new Ghana Cocoa Board Act, 2026 also introduces a new legislative framework for the country’s cocoa sector.
With the President’s assent, the 10 Bills have now become laws, bringing the legislative process to completion and allowing the relevant institutions to proceed with implementation.
