The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) is appealing to the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) to extend the March 31, 2026 deadline for the withdrawal of mixed alcoholic and stimulant beverages from the Ghanaian market.
AGI said the current timeline poses significant financial risks to local manufacturers.
The appeal was made during a high-level Industry Forum on Food and Domestic Tax Policies, where AGI leadership met with representatives from the Ministry of Finance, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), and the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry to discuss regulatory and tax pressures affecting the beverage sector.
At the centre of the discussion is the directive by the Food and Drugs Authority requiring all beverages containing a combination of alcohol and stimulants to be removed from the market by March 31, 2026.
AGI says while it supports the public health objectives behind the directive, the timeline for compliance presents major operational and financial challenges for industry players.
President of AGI, Dr. Kofi Nsiah-Poku, noted that, “manufacturers have accepted in principle the need to either reformulate the products or withdraw them entirely from the market”
However, he warned that,” the current deadline does not provide adequate time for companies to adjust their production lines and manage existing inventory”.
According to AGI, manufacturers also need more time to recover significant investments already made in packaging and branding, while completing the technical processes required to reformulate products that comply with the new regulations.
The Association is therefore urging the FDA to extend the deadline to December 31, 2026, to allow companies a more realistic transition period.
The engagement formed part of AGI’s broader dialogue with policymakers under the theme “Strengthening Public-Private Dialogue in Policy Formulation.”
Industry leaders say continued collaboration between regulators and businesses is necessary to ensure that public health policies are implemented in ways that protect consumers while sustaining local industry and jobs.
By Coffie Mawuedem Noel
