Accra: The Parliament of Ghana has successfully passed twelve significant bills, marking the conclusion of the Second Meeting of the First Session of the Ninth Parliament. These legislative reforms cover a wide array of sectors including cocoa, local governance, justice, defence, maritime security, taxation, investment promotion, and energy financing.
According to Ghana Web, these legislative measures are part of the government's strategic efforts to bolster public institutions, rejuvenate key economic sectors, enhance revenue mobilization, and advance national development initiatives. Notably, one of the reforms includes the removal of excise duty on locally produced fruit juices, which is expected to boost local manufacturing.
The comprehensive list of twelve bills passed by Parliament includes the Human Sexual Rights and Family Bill, 2025, which aims to criminalize LGBTQ activities while providing certain professional exemptions. Another significant piece of legislation is the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority Bill, 2025, which establishes a modern framework for investment facilitation and regulation.
Further legislative actions include the Maritime and Related Offences Bill, 2026, aimed at strengthening legal frameworks against maritime crimes, and the Community Service Bill, 2026, which introduces community service as an alternative sentencing option for minor offences.
Education and research will see a boost with the establishment of a National Defence University through the National Defence University, Ghana Bill, 2026. Tax-related reforms such as the Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2026, aim to simplify tax administration and ease compliance for businesses.
Other notable bills include the Tribunals Bill, 2026, to enhance justice access, and the Customs Bill, 2026, which introduces prohibitions and incentives related to vehicle importation. The Excise Bill, 2026, focuses on excise duty regulations, while the Ghana Cocoa Bill, 2026, seeks to strengthen the cocoa sector.
Lastly, the Energy Sector Levies (Amendment) Bill, 2026, addresses levy increases to close subsidy loopholes in the petroleum sector. These legislative reforms reflect a concerted effort by the Ghanaian government to foster economic growth and improve sectoral governance.