VAST Ghana commends Parliament for passing Excise Tax Bill 2026
VAST Ghana has praised the passage of the Excise Tax Bill 2026, which aims to curb non-communicable diseases by increasing taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks. The legislation introduces a hybrid tax structure to discourage consumption and fund public health.
Why it matters
Fiscal policy is increasingly being used as a public health tool to combat rising healthcare costs and lifestyle-related diseases in developing nations.
Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development Ghana (VAST Ghana) has commended Parliament for passing the Excise Tax Bill 2026.
According to VAST the legislation was an important milestone in protecting public health, promoting responsible consumption and strengthening domestic financing for health.
In a statement, the organisation also commended the Ministry of Finance for proposed reforms to the excise tax regime, saying fiscal policy was an important public health tool as Ghana faced a growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), rising healthcare costs and declining external health financing.
It said well-designed health taxes were among the most cost-effective interventions available to governments and aligned with the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s “3 by 35 Initiative”, which calls on countries to increase the real prices of tobacco, alcohol and sugar-sweetened beverages by at least 50 per cent by 2035 through excise tax increases.
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