President John Dramani Mahama has assented to 10 Bills passed by Parliament, moving ahead with a package of legislative reforms despite strong opposition from the Minority, which had called on him not to sign some of the controversial measures into law.
The Bills, passed during the Second Meeting of the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament, cover taxation, revenue mobilisation, justice administration, energy, cocoa, customs, maritime regulation and national defence.
The President’s assent formally brings the legislation into force, completing the constitutional process required for Parliament-approved Bills to become law.
Among the newly enacted laws are the Customs Act, 2026; Community Service Act, 2026; Tribunals Act, 2026; Maritime and Related Offences Act, 2026; and National Defence University, Ghana Act, 2026.
Others include the 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.
The Minority had mounted opposition to some of the legislation and urged President Mahama to withhold his assent, raising concerns over their implications and calling for further consideration.
Despite those objections, the President has now signed the Bills, clearing the way for the relevant state institutions and agencies to implement the new legal provisions.
The tax-related legislation is expected to affect Ghana’s revenue framework, while the Energy Sector Levies (Amendment) Act introduces changes to the legal framework governing energy-sector levies.
The Ghana Cocoa Board Act provides a new legal framework for the country’s cocoa regulator, while the Customs Act deals with the administration and enforcement of customs matters.
On the justice front, the Community Service Act and Tribunals Act introduce legislative provisions affecting the administration of justice. The Maritime and Related Offences Act addresses offences within Ghana’s maritime space, while the National Defence University, Ghana Act provides the legal foundation for the country’s defence university.
The 10 Bills were among 12 pieces of legislation passed by Parliament during the meeting, which ended on July 31, 2026.
