*Photo:Minister of Finance,
Cassiel Ato Forson*
The Ghanaian Government has abolished its 15% value-added tax (VAT) on exploration in an effort to attract new investments to the mining sector, which accounts for over a third of country’s export revenues, Minister of Finance,
Cassiel Ato Forson said during the 2026 budget presentation.
The move reverses a 25-year-old policy that had made the country less competitive against regional rivals, according to local industry groups. The tax had long been criticized for discouraging greenfield investment in early-stage mining projects.
“Abolishing VAT will revive investor confidence, stimulate greenfield activity, and ensure the long-term sustainability of the country’s mining sector,” Forson told parliament.
The policy shift comes as Ghana’s small-scale gold exports reached a record 81.7 tonnes between January and October, surpassing large-scale mine exports for the first time.
