The Ghana Revenue Authority has intensified efforts to clamp down on tax evasion in the beverages sector, seizing several sugar-sweetened drinks, energy drinks and alcoholic products during a compliance operation at the Nima-Maamobi Market in Accra.
The exercise, carried out in collaboration with the Institute of Leadership and Development (INSLA), targeted traders, wholesalers, distributors and importers suspected of violating the Excise Duty (Amendment) Act 1108 of 2023 governing Sugar Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) taxation.
Officials confiscated a number of products, including local and foreign malt drinks, Guinness Malt and vodka products, after discovering that some had no excise duty stamps while others carried incorrect or swapped tax stamps.
Shop owners affected by the operation were issued seizure notices and directed to report to the GRA for further action.
Speaking to the media, Nelson Bright Atsu, Head of Excise Compliance and Chief Revenue Officer at the GRA, warned that the operation would continue across markets to ensure strict enforcement of tax regulations.
“Shop owners should ensure goods and products are affixed with the required excise tax stamps before they receive them, otherwise when we see them, we will pick them and owners will bear the full consequences for those infractions,” he cautioned.
Mr Atsu explained that some importers and distributors were allegedly using lower-rated tax stamps on products to reduce tax obligations, thereby causing revenue losses to the State.
He cited instances where energy drinks carried water excise tax stamps charged at 17.5 per cent instead of the required 20 per cent excise duty based on ex-factory prices.
According to him, the GRA was also intensifying public education on the use of the GRA Authenticator mobile application, which allows consumers to verify genuine excise duty stamps by scanning them with smartphones.
He said the application, available on the Google Play Store, would help consumers identify fake or non-compliant products and report violations directly to the Authority.
The enforcement exercise forms part of a broader project being implemented jointly by the GRA and INSLA titled: “Strengthening Capacity on the Implementation and Enforcement of the Excise Duty (Amendment) Act 1108 of 2023.”
Benjamin Anabila, Director of INSLA, said the initiative was not only intended to improve revenue mobilisation but also to reduce the consumption of unhealthy sugar-sweetened beverages linked to rising non-communicable diseases.
He identified diabetes and obesity as some of the major health conditions associated with excessive intake of sugary drinks and stressed the need for stronger enforcement of the SSB tax policy to protect public health.
