President John Dramani Mahama has assented to 10 Bills passed by Parliament, bringing into force new laws covering taxation, revenue mobilisation, justice, national defence, maritime affairs and the cocoa sector.
The legislation was among 12 Bills approved by the Ninth Parliament during the Second Meeting of its Second Session, which ended on July 31, 2026.
Following the President’s assent, the 10 Bills have become law, paving the way for government agencies and other relevant institutions to begin implementing their provisions.
The newly enacted laws are the 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; and Excise Act, 2026.
Collectively, the laws introduce significant changes across public revenue administration, taxation, trade, the justice system, national security and the regulation of key economic activities.
The amendments to the Income Tax, Value Added Tax, Excise and Energy Sector Levies laws are expected to have a direct impact on Ghana’s tax administration and efforts to increase domestic revenue mobilisation.
One of the measures is the Public Tribunals Bill, 2026, which was passed by Parliament on July 16, 2026. The legislation faced opposition from the Minority and the Trades Union Congress (TUC), which expressed concerns over the potential for abuse and the creation of a parallel judicial system.
The law seeks to reintroduce tribunals as specialised judicial bodies operating within Ghana’s constitutional framework. Its proponents argue that the system will help address delays in the traditional courts and improve access to justice.
With presidential assent now granted, the legislation moves from the parliamentary process to implementation, with the relevant institutions expected to give effect to the new legal framework.
