Ghana policy blitz: Ministries roll out sweeping reforms across economy,security, and governance

In a coordinated policy blitz over the past month, Ghana’s various ministries have unveiled a cascade of legislative proposals, regulatory amendments, and administrative directives that touch nearly every sector of national life. From the Finance Ministry’s six revenue bills to the Interior Ministry’s biometric mandate and the Lands Ministry’s mining overhaul, the government is moving at breakneck speed to reshape the country’s economic, legal, and security landscape.

Finance Ministry: Six Bills to Plug Revenue Leakages

The Ministry of Finance has tabled six bills in Parliament to seal loopholes in revenue generation. They are: the Customs Bill 2026 (the first major review in 11 years); the Income Tax Amendment Bill 2026; the Value Added Tax Amendment Bill 2026; the Excise Amendment Bill 2026; the Public Procurement Amendment Bill; and the Ghana Cocoa Board Amendment Bill, 2025.

The Excise Amendment Bill targets significant leakages in wines and spirits—between 2023 and 2025, estimated revenue was GH₵5 billion but only GH¢1 billion was received. The Customs Bill will compel destination countries’ officers to be present at Ghana’s ports to collect revenues before transit cargo is released, while the Public Procurement Amendment Bill aims to shorten procurement timelines and make competitive tendering the norm.

Separately, Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson announced statutory time limits for bonded warehouses: perishable goods (three months), general goods (six months), and raw materials (12 months), with re-warehousing capped at six months. Every bonded warehouse must now install an electronic inventory system linked to the Customs Division of the GRA.

Procurement reforms will slash national competitive tendering for goods from 25 weeks to 8 weeks, and international tendering for works from 27 weeks to 14 weeks. Single-source procurement will be strictly limited to emergencies or national security concerns.

Interior Ministry: Biometric Mandate, Firearm Reforms, and Public Tribunals

The Interior Ministry has given banks, telcos, hospitals, and schools until November 2, 2026 to end Ghana Card photocopying and adopt biometric authentication. Under L.I. 2523, organisations can no longer request, retain, or rely on photocopies or scanned images. Non-compliance risks fines, suspension, or termination of access to the NIA’s Identity Verification System.

In parallel, the Ministry has suspended firearms licensing and introduced mandatory mental health evaluations, drug screening, and structured firearms training for all applicants and renewals. Background checks by the National Intelligence Bureau and CID will be strengthened, with the system set for digitisation.

Parliament also passed the Public Tribunal Bill, 2026, to address a case backlog increasing by approximately 3,360 cases annually. The Minority walked out over Clause 4, which establishes regional and district tribunals, arguing it creates a parallel judicial system.

Lands and Natural Resources: 20-Year Mining Law Overhaul

Cabinet has endorsed a comprehensive review of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703). Key reforms include: District Mining Committees as the licensing entry point, giving host communities formal say—mining companies must secure community recommendations before applications reach Accra; a new medium-scale mining category; a single exploration licence capped at five years replacing survey and prospecting licences; mining leases fixed at 20 years with mandatory community development agreements; and a sliding-scale royalty regime tied to commodity price cycles.

The Ministry also announced that the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat executed 200 operations across 53 districts between January and June, arresting 207 suspects including 46 foreign nationals, and seizing or destroying 78 excavators and 2,800 chanfangs.

Trade, Agribusiness and Industry: Four Sector Policies for Tema Industrial Park

Cabinet approved four policies to power the Tema Integrated Industrial Park: the Ghana Textiles and Garments Manufacturing Policy, the Ghana Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Policy, the Automotive Components Manufacturing Policy, and the National Agribusiness Policy (2026–2036). The park is projected to create over 4,000 direct jobs.

Food and Agriculture: Agricultural Extension Bill

The proposed Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services Bill seeks to establish a National Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services Council to regulate professionals, set standards, and prescribe codes of ethics, alongside a Regulatory Unit to oversee accreditation.

Transport: National Airline, Rail Expansion, and 24-Hour Ports

The government is re-establishing a national airline, remodelling Terminal 2 at Accra Airport, expanding the runway, and constructing new regional airports in Sunyani, Bolgatanga and Wa. The Tema-Mpakadan rail line will be operationalised for freight and passenger traffic, while the Tema port and DVLA office at Adenta are now running 24-hour operations.

Governance: Anti-Corruption Plan and State Assets Protection

Cabinet approved the National Ethics and Anti-Corruption Action Plan 2026–2030 and directed the Attorney General to draft a State Assets Protection Bill to regulate the disposal of state assets.

Outlook

With Parliament currently reviewing multiple bills and transition periods underway for several regulations, the coming months will test both the government’s implementation capacity and the private sector’s adaptability to Ghana’s rapidly evolving policy environment.