The Food and Beverages Association Ghana (FABAG), has appealed to the Minister of Finance Dr Cassiel Ato Forson to remove the Excise Tax on fruit juices and other nuisance taxes that were introduced by the NPP government.

According to FABAG, the removal of these taxes in the first budget of the Mahama administration statement is very key to boosting domestic production and increased revenue mobilization by the GRA. "The introduction and imposition of the obnoxious EXCISE tax on sweetened and fruit drinks under Excise Duty (Amendments) Act 2023 (Act 1093), especially on locally produced fruit juices and sweetened beverages, has had a devastating negative effect on local manufacturing with a multiplier effect on employment levels, sales turnover, working capital and international market competitiveness of Ghanaian fruit juices and sweetened beverages," a statement issued by FABAG said.

It added that "A brief Cost -Benefits analysis of the Excise Duty by FABAG on domestic industry capacity and productivity since its introduction indicates that the government and for that matter the Ghanaian economy has lost so much since its introduction. "Sales have dropped by over 50% .

Net revenue generated to government has in fact reduced and not increased.