Professional services firm, Deloitte, has stated that the Implementation of the Value Added Tax (VAT) reforms will ease the tax burden on businesses, stimulate investment, and support job creation.

In its analysis of the 2026 National Budget, the firm stated that it will closely monitor the implementation of the 24-Hour Economy initiative and the Accelerated Export Development Programme, which collectively aim to unlock productivity, expand export capacity, and drive inclusive growth.

“For the business community and consumers, the proposed reform to the Value Added Tax (VAT) regime is welcome news. Implementation of the reforms is expected to reduce the effective VAT rate to 20% from 21.9%. These reforms are expected to ease the tax burden on businesses, stimulate investment, and support job creation”.

The Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, presented the 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the next financial year to Parliament on 13 November 2025. The theme for the 2026 Budget Statement is “Resetting for Growth, Jobs, and Economic Transformation.”

The 2026 Budget Statement outlined the government’s agenda to transition from stabilisation to transformation. Key policy measures announced include further strengthening of domestic revenue mobilisation, continued rationalisation of public expenditure, and a renewed commitment to fiscal discipline.

Continuing, Deloitte said, given that the 2026 Budget Statement sets the tone for growth, jobs and economic transformation, with the already launched 24-Hour Economy programme as the main vehicle for the targeted economic transformation, one would expect to see notable changes in the projected economic structure via the sectoral contribution to Gross Domestic Product.

“The structure is projected to remain largely unchanged as opposed to the expectation of significant increases in the contributions to GDP by industry and Agriculture, which raises concerns as to whether these projections are aligned to Ghana's desired economic transformation agenda”, it concluded.