Ghana Standards Authority Suspends Mandatory Pre-Shipment Inspection for Imported Used Vehicles

The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has announced the immediate suspension of the mandatory pre-shipment inspection exercise for imported used vehicles, a move that provides temporary relief for importers across the country. In a public notice signed by the Director-General, Professor George Agyei, on October 5, 2026, the Authority confirmed that a new implementation date for the exercise will be communicated in due course. This decision follows previous directives that required all used vehicles to undergo rigorous Pre-Shipment Verification of Conformity under the GSA’s FlexiPass Programme, which was designed to ensure that imports meet national safety and quality standards before leaving their ports of origin.

The suspension of these inspections means that importers will not currently be required to pay the scheduled inspection fees, which were set to range between $200 and $300 per vehicle depending on the country of origin. The highest fees were specifically targeted at vehicles being shipped from the United Kingdom, Europe, and North America. Under the proposed framework, vehicles failing to meet the GS 4510 standards would have been denied a FlexiPass certificate, effectively barring their entry into Ghana. The program had already identified Autoterminal Japan and EAA Company Limited as the authorized inspection bodies to verify vehicle condition and safety features.

While the pre-shipment inspection is on hold, the GSA continues to enforce other stringent regulations aimed at modernizing Ghana's automotive fleet. Notably, as of October 1, 2026, the Authority has begun enforcing a ban on the importation of used vehicles older than 15 years. Additionally, regulations remain in place against the importation of severely damaged vehicles or those lacking essential functional components, such as working speedometers. These measures are part of a broader national strategy to improve road safety and reduce the environmental impact of older, poorly maintained vehicles.

The GSA has urged importers to remain vigilant and to continue utilizing approved agents to avoid potential fraud during this transitional period. Stakeholders are encouraged to verify all documentation with the Authority’s Vehicle Homologation Unit. While the suspension offers a reprieve from additional costs, the GSA maintains that the ultimate goal of the FlexiPass Programme is to safeguard Ghanaian buyers from substandard vehicles and to streamline the importation process by ensuring compliance before vehicles reach Ghanaian shores.