Ghana Tightens Rules on Used Vehicle Imports | By Joojo Maapa
Ghana will from October 1, 2026, prohibit the importation of originally manufactured right-hand-drive vehicles and used vehicles older than 10 years as part of a comprehensive overhaul of the country’s vehicle import regime.
The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) announced that the measures will be enforced under the Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) programme, which requires all used vehicles destined for Ghana to undergo inspection and certification in their country of export before shipment.
Under the new regime, inspections will be conducted in accordance with GS 4510, Ghana’s national standard governing the importation of used vehicles.
The standard specifically bars the importation of originally manufactured right-hand-drive vehicles, over-aged vehicles exceeding 10 years, vehicles assembled from spare parts, and vehicles without speedometer readings calibrated in kilometres per hour.
It also prohibits vehicles that have suffered major structural damage, including those submerged in floodwater, destroyed by fire, or with damaged chassis and safety cages.
The GSA said the initiative is intended to improve the quality and safety of vehicles entering Ghana while protecting consumers from unsafe imports.
According to the Authority, the PVoC programme will also help reduce environmental pollution, strengthen consumer confidence and improve the regulation of Ghana’s used vehicle market.
Deputy Director-General in charge of General Services at the GSA, Samuel Abdulai Jabanyite, said the programme has now gained the support of industry stakeholders and will help eliminate Ghana’s reputation as a destination for unsafe automotive imports.
“We are trying to pluck a major loophole that all the waste, especially when it comes to the automotive industry, coming into our country as a dumping ground and that will be killing our people and causing environmental hazard to us, will now be a thing of the past,” he said.
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