Ghana to ban importation of used vehicles over 10 years from October 1

The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has announced that it will begin enforcing the Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) programme for vehicle imports from October 1, 2026, as part of efforts to prevent substandard and unsafe vehicles from entering the country.

The programme requires all used vehicles imported into Ghana to comply with GS 4510, the national standard governing used vehicle imports, before they are shipped from their country of origin.

Under the new regime, third-party inspection agencies will verify that vehicles meet Ghana’s safety, quality and environmental standards before export.

The initiative is expected to improve the quality of imported vehicles, strengthen consumer protection, enhance vehicle traceability and reduce environmental risks associated with defective automobiles.

Vehicles that have suffered major structural damage will not be permitted entry into the country.

These include vehicles that have been submerged in water or affected by floods, damaged by fire, or those with compromised chassis or safety cages, including broken, bent, cracked or twisted structural components.

The standard also prohibits the importation of originally manufactured right-hand-drive vehicles, vehicles assembled from spare parts, vehicles without speedometers calibrated in kilometres per hour, and vehicles that are more than 10 years old.

The GSA believes the enforcement of the PVoC programme will help formalise Ghana’s used-vehicle market, improve access to vehicle financing, boost investor confidence and create a more regulated automotive sector.

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Deputy Director-General in charge of General Services at the GSA, Samuel Abdulai Jabanyite, said the implementation follows extensive stakeholder consultations and has gained broad industry support despite initial resistance.

He said the programme is aimed at closing loopholes that have allowed Ghana to become a dumping ground for damaged and unsafe vehicles.

“We are trying to plug a major loophole where waste, especially from the automotive industry, comes into our country as a dumping ground. That practice, which is killing our people and causing environmental hazards, will now become a thing of the past,” he stated.

He stressed that while vehicles with severe damage, including flood and fire-damaged vehicles, would be rejected, those with minor defects that can be repaired to meet road worthiness standards may still be allowed entry after inspection.

“We will not compromise on that. When cars are flooded or burnt, these are things that we have set aside. But those things that can be replaced and make them roadworthy when they come to Ghana, we allow that,” he added.

In addition to the PVoC programme, the GSA is set to introduce the Vehicle Dealer Information System (VEDIS) to strengthen the detection of stolen vehicles and improve coordination among agencies involved in vehicle importation and registration.

According to Jabanyite, VEDIS will integrate data from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), insurance companies, Interpol, National Security and the GSA into a single digital platform to enable real-time verification of vehicle records.

He said the system will help identify stolen vehicles before they are registered in Ghana while ensuring that only vehicles that meet national standards are allowed onto the country’s roads.

DR/MA