President Mahama Signs 10 Bills Into Law, Including Tribunals and Community Service Acts
New legislation introduces sweeping reforms in justice, taxation, customs, cocoa, energy and national defence following Parliament’s approval
Date: August 26, 2026 By: Ebenezer Adugyamfi/ Emmanuel Ayiku for GhanaianNewsCanada
President John Dramani Mahama has signed 10 Bills into law, completing the final constitutional step required to transform key pieces of legislation passed by Parliament into enforceable laws. The newly enacted laws introduce significant reforms across Ghana’s justice system, taxation, customs administration, maritime security, cocoa governance and national defence.
The Bills were among 12 pieces of legislation approved during the Second Meeting of the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament, which ended on July 31, 2026. With the President’s assent, the relevant ministries and state agencies can now begin implementing the provisions contained in the new laws.
The 10 Bills now signed into law
The legislation signed by President Mahama includes:
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Customs Act, 2026
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Community Service Act, 2026
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Tribunals Act, 2026
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Maritime and Related Offences Act, 2026
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National Defence University, Ghana Act, 2026
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Income Tax (Amendment) Act, 2026
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Energy Sector Levies (Amendment) Act, 2026
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Ghana Cocoa Board Act, 2026
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Value Added Tax (Amendment) Act, 2026
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Excise Act, 2026
The government says the package of legislation is aimed at plugging revenue leakages, strengthening justice delivery and supporting key sectors of the Ghanaian economy.
Community Service Act introduces non-custodial sentencing
One of the most significant reforms is the Community Service Act, 2026, which introduces non-custodial sentences for persons convicted of misdemeanours and other minor offences.
Instead of serving prison terms, eligible offenders may now be ordered by the courts to perform supervised community service. Government believes the new law will reduce overcrowding in Ghana’s prisons while promoting rehabilitation and lowering the cost of maintaining inmates.
Tribunals Act strengthens justice administration
The Tribunals Act, 2026 gives legal effect to the constitutional establishment of regional tribunals across Ghana.
Under the new law, the Chief Justice is empowered to establish tribunals to hear specified categories of offences, strengthening the country’s justice administration and expanding access to specialised courts.
Major tax reforms take effect
Four of the newly enacted laws directly affect Ghana’s taxation and revenue framework:
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Income Tax (Amendment) Act exempts persons earning the national minimum wage or below from paying income tax.
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Value Added Tax (Amendment) Act provides VAT exemptions relating to gold surrendered by large-scale mining companies under the government’s gold programme.
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Excise Act consolidates Ghana’s excise laws and introduces exemptions for locally manufactured fruit juices to encourage domestic production.
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Energy Sector Levies (Amendment) Act closes loopholes surrounding fuel oil exemptions for factories and maritime vessels while strengthening revenue collection.
The reforms form part of the Mahama administration’s broader agenda to improve tax efficiency and eliminate revenue leakages.
Cocoa and customs reforms
The Ghana Cocoa Board Act, 2026 introduces a new legal framework for the cocoa sector, including government’s commitment to process at least 50 percent of Ghana’s cocoa beans locally and ensure cocoa farmers receive 70 percent of the world market price for their produce.
Meanwhile, the Customs Act, 2026 consolidates numerous amendments into a single comprehensive customs law aimed at simplifying customs administration, improving trade efficiency and reducing opportunities for revenue loss at Ghana’s borders.
Maritime security and national defence
The President also signed the Maritime and Related Offences Act, 2026, providing Ghana with a stronger legal framework for prosecuting crimes committed within its maritime domain while aligning domestic law with international maritime obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
In addition, the National Defence University, Ghana Act, 2026 formally establishes the National Defence University as a statutory institution, providing the legal basis for its academic programmes and accreditation.
Government begins implementation
The presidential assent marks the completion of the legislative process, paving the way for implementation by the relevant ministries, departments and regulatory agencies.
The Mahama administration says the new laws are intended to strengthen governance, modernise public administration, improve justice delivery and support long-term economic development across multiple sectors.
With the 10 Bills now officially enacted, Ghana enters a new phase of legal reforms that will shape taxation, trade, justice, agriculture, maritime security and national development in the years ahead.
