The Ghana Union of Traders' Associations (GUTA) has expressed disappointment over the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review, arguing that the government addressed only one of the four key expectations it presented ahead of the Finance Minister's presentation. 

Speaking to Class News, GUTA's President, Clement Boateng, said the association had expected announcements on the rationalization of the import duty regime, support for traders under the government's 24-hour economy programme, the removal of the 20 percent excise duty on locally manufactured fruit juices and the operationalization of the Women's Development Bank. 

“So of all our four expectations, it's only the Women's Bank that I can say was addressed," Clement Boateng said. 

He welcomed the Finance Minister's indication that the Women's Development Bank is expected to become operational by the end of the year but said traders were looking for more concrete interventions. 

According to him, GUTA had held several engagements with the Office of the 24-Hour Economy and submitted proposals seeking financial support to help traders move beyond retail into manufacturing.

“We don't want to remain at the buying and selling. We want to enter into the manufacturing sector but we cannot do it on our own," he said.

Clement Boateng also argued that the budget review did not contain specific measures to reduce the cost of doing business. 

He also commented that abolition of the 20 percent excise duty on locally manufactured fruit juices would improve the competitiveness of local producers. 

“Because of that excise duty that was put on the local manufacturers' fruit juices, it was making them uncompetitive," he said. 

He further called on government to revisit the current import duty regime to provide relief for traders and consumers. 

“It’s about time that we also look at rationalizing the whole duty regime so that importers and, for that matter, traders can also have a little bit of relief," he added. 

The Finance Minister reiterated government's commitment to supporting private sector growth, although GUTA maintains that the review fell short of addressing key concerns affecting traders, particularly on import duties, business costs and support for the 24-hour economy programme.