Institute of Leadership and Development (INSLA) Is Calling On Government To Protect Public Health By Safeguarding Excise Taxes.

The Institute of Leadership and development is calling on government (Ministry of

Finance) and other stakeholders to protect the public health of Ghanaians by safeguarding excise taxes on Sugar Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) in Ghana.

Government must comprehensively implement the excise duty taxes in Ghana to help

prevent and treat non

communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, stroke,

diabetes and breast and colon cancer.

The consumption of Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) are significant contributors to

overweight and obesity. Children suffering from these conditions have an elevated probability of developing other diet-related diseases later in life, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension and stroke.

The burden of NCDs including cardiovascular diseases are

essential to ending poverty, reducing inequality and improving health and wellbeing.

NCDs kill around 38 million people yearly, accounting for 68% of all deaths worldwide.

WHO estimates that NCDs account for an estimated 42% of total death and 31% of

disease burden in Ghana. Ghana’s excise tax instituted under the Excise Duty

Amendment Acts 2023 (Acts 1103) on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) is to discourage excessive consumption and reduce their negative impact on public health –

e.g. reducing prevalence of NCDs such as diabetes, and

hypertension.

These excise taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and SSBs align with international best practices and are recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Government must disregard the call from the Food and Beverage Association of Ghana

(FABAG) to reverse or remove Ghana´s excise taxes on health-harming products such

as tobacco, alcohol, and sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs).

FABAG’s demand is a call

to favor a profit driven motives rather than public health concerns. Eliminating excise

taxes would be a bad move that would sacrifice the well-being of Ghanaians on the altar

of corporate greed. Public health crises would worsen, and healthcare costs would rise.

Government cannot afford to give in to self-interest and narratives motivated by profit

but rather that safeguard the health of its citizens, strengthen its healthcare system, and

make sure that public health is not sacrificed for economic advancement.

Globally, such excise taxes have proven effective in reducing smoking rates, alcoholrelated harm, and consumption of foods and SSBs implicated in diet-related diseases

like obesity and diabetes.

Revenue from the SSB tax has significantly increased since its

introduction.

The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) reports that following the introduction of SSB tax in April 2023, revenue soared to GHc1,325.57 million in 2023, up

from GHc735.46 million in 2022.

To ensure that Ghanaians always have healthier options to choose from, we urge the government and development implementing partners to implement SSB taxes in full, along with other public health policies (like front-of-pack labeling, restrictions on the

marketing of health-harming products, and public food procurement policies), rather

than heeding FABAG's demand. When government heeds to this call from FABAG it is automatically working against the vision of Ghana’s National NCDs Policy that seeks to attain a healthy population for national development through a reduction in the burden of NCDs.

The demand for water, sugar-free beverages, and natural fruit-based drinks is increasing, so industry players need to innovate and focus their production on promoting healthier alternatives rather than calling for the removal of SSB taxes because businesses that embrace this shift will not only be able to adjust to shifting consumer preferences but

also improve national health outcomes.

We further urge the individuals to take charge of their health by saying no to Sugar Sweetening Beverages SSBs and unhealthy diets and embrace healthier diets options and lifestyles.

Signed By:

Mary Yayra Kpogo

Director of Programs

Institute of Leadership and Development (INSLA)

Tel: +233-(0)30-393-4021, +233-(0)26-837-6320

Email: inslaprograms@gmail.com

Website: www.inslad.org