Prof. George Agyei, GSA Director-General
The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) will begin full global enforcement of the mandatory Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) programme for imported used vehicles on October 1, 2026, as part of measures to sanitise the domestic automotive sector and protect consumers.
The programme, being implemented through the Authority’s Vehicles Homologation Unit, is anchored in the GSA Act, 2022 (Act 1078), which empowers the Authority to set binding standards and prohibit importation or sale of substandard products, and the Customs (Amendment) Act, 2020 (Act 891 Section 61), which requires importers to provide GSA-issued certification before Customs clearance.
Ghana’s automotive market is heavily reliant on imports, with used vehicles accounting for over 90 per cent of the market compared to about 10 per cent for new vehicles.
The GSA says the structure is unsustainable, with the market flooded with pre-owned, accident-damaged, flooded, burnt and overaged vehicles, while most owners rely on uncertified mechanics and counterfeit spare parts. The country also lacks a structured framework for vehicle recycling, recalls and scrap management.
To support enforcement, the GSA has established or adopted 129 automotive standards covering general vehicles, used imports, electric vehicles and charging infrastructure.
Under the new regime, importers of new vehicles must register on the Vehicle Dealer Information System (VeDIS) and homologate their models.
Over 150 models from brands including Toyota, Volkswagen, Nissan and Hyundai have already been approved.
Full enforcement for new vehicle importer registration took effect on April 30, 2026. For used vehicles, the PVoC protocol under standard GS 4510 requires physical inspection in the country of origin by licensed third-party inspection bodies to obtain a Certificate of Conformance (CoC) and QR-coded verification sticker. Inspections will occur before vehicles are loaded for shipment.
The programme bans flooded, burnt, right-hand drive, kit-assembled or structurally damaged vehicles, or those without speedometers in kilometres per hour.
However, the GSA says age will not be the sole indicator of compliance. Focus will be on environmental impact and structural safety – a four-year-old vehicle emitting high pollutants will be rejected, while a well-maintained 12-year-old vehicle that meets emission thresholds will be approved.
Pre-shipment checks will cover emissions and roadworthiness, structural integrity and accident history, speedometer accuracy and odometer verification, radiation levels, export documentation authenticity and theft verification through international platforms.
Cross-referencing Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) with INTERPOL and domestic police databases is expected to block stolen vehicles, while micro-dotting and secure QR-code stickers will curb under-declaration of duties, under-invoicing, age misrepresentation and vehicle misclassification.
Inspection fees have been structured by region. Standard inspection in Japan costs $200. The GSA has negotiated a rate of $250 for Korea, Singapore, China, India, the UAE and other African and Asian nations, and $300 for the UK, Europe, the Americas, Australia and New Zealand.
The Authority says the rates represent about a 25 per cent reduction across most markets outside Japan. Payment responsibility rests with the exporter in the country of origin.
Upon passing inspection, a certificate will be issued for Customs clearance in Ghana, valid for 90 days. Vehicles not shipped within the window must undergo re-inspection. Importers can appeal rejections within five business days, with re-inspections free of charge.
At Ghana’s ports, GSA inspectors will verify the physical unit, VIN and sticker against VeDIS records before authorising release through the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS). The system is expected to enable faster processing for pre-cleared vehicles.
The GSA says the policy addresses fraud such as odometer tampering, hidden flood damage and undisclosed accident histories, while also curbing revenue loss and duty leakages.
The Authority cites outcomes from similar PVoC systems elsewhere in Africa. Kenya, which implemented its system in 2005, recorded a 40 per cent increase in Customs revenue, Tanzania saw a 60 per cent reduction in substandard imports, and Uganda recorded an 80 per cent decrease in odometer fraud.
By Janet Odei Amponsah