President Mahama signs 10 bills into law, including customs, community service, and tribunals acts
On Wednesday, August 26, 2026, President John Dramani Mahama signed 10 bills into law, addressing various sectors such as customs, community service, regional tribunals, maritime offenses, taxation, cocoa, and excise duties. The new laws include the Customs Act, 2026, which consolidates amendments to customs laws to improve administration and reduce revenue losses. The Community Service Act introduces non-custodial sentences for minor offenses, allowing offenders to perform community service instead of imprisonment. The Tribunals Act enables the Chief Justice to establish regional tribunals for specific categories of offenses, fulfilling a constitutional provision. The Maritime and Related Offences Act provides a domestic legal framework for Ghana to enforce its obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The National Defence University Act, 2026, grants legal backing and statutory entity status to the university, accrediting its courses. The Income Tax Amendment Act exempts individuals earning the minimum wage or below from income tax. The Energy Sector Levy Amendment Act, 2026, aims to prevent abuse of tax exemptions on fuel oil for factories and maritime vessels. The Ghana Cocoa Board Act incorporates reforms for the cocoa sector, targeting at least 50% local processing of cocoa beans and ensuring farmers receive 70% of the world market price. The Value Added Tax Amendment Act provides VAT adjustments for gold supplied by large-scale mining compa
