The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) has called on the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) to extend the deadline for withdrawing mixed alcoholic and stimulant beverages from the Ghanaian market to December 31, 2026
The current deadline of March 31, 2026, according to AGI, poses serious financial and operational challenges for local manufacturers.
The appeal was made at a high-level Industry Forum on Food and Domestic Tax Policies, where AGI executives engaged officials from the Ministry of Finance, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), and the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry.
At the heart of the discussions is the FDA’s directive mandating the removal of all drinks containing a mix of alcohol and stimulants by the end of March 2026.
While AGI says it supports the public health rationale behind the directive, it believes the timeline for compliance is too tight for industry players.
AGI President, Dr. Kofi Nsiah-Poku explained that manufacturers need additional time to recover investments made in packaging and branding, as well as to complete the technical processes required to meet the new regulatory standards.
As a result, AGI is urging the FDA to consider extending the deadline to the end of 2026 to allow for a smoother transition.
Op: The producers are worried about their profit margins; that's understandable. But should they not be more worried about producing food items that potentially endanger the wellbeing of millions of consumers?
