Ghana is set to introduce a stricter vehicle import regime from October 1, 2026, as the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) moves to block the entry of unsafe, flood-damaged and stolen vehicles into the country.
Under the new Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) programme, all used vehicles destined for Ghana will be required to undergo inspection in the exporting country to verify compliance with GS 4510, the national standard governing the importation of used vehicles.
The enforcement date was announced by the GSA as part of broader reforms aimed at improving road safety, strengthening environmental protection and increasing transparency in the used-vehicle market.
The new inspection regime will prohibit the importation of vehicles that have suffered major structural or safety damage, including those submerged in floodwaters, damaged by fire, or with broken, bent, cracked or twisted chassis and safety cage structures.
The standard will also bar the importation of originally manufactured right-hand-drive vehicles, vehicles assembled from spare parts, vehicles without speedometer readings in kilometres per hour, and vehicles more than 10 years old.
GSA Deputy Director-General in charge of General Services, Samuel Abdulai Jabanyite, said the Authority would not compromise on the enforcement of the new standards.
“We are trying to close a major loophole that has allowed Ghana to become a destination for automotive waste that poses serious safety and environmental risks,” he said after a stakeholder engagement meeting.
He explained that only vehicles capable of being restored to roadworthy condition within the standards would be allowed into the country, while third-party inspection agencies engaged by the GSA would be responsible for verifying compliance before shipment.
The Authority believes the programme will improve the quality and safety of imported vehicles, enhance consumer protection, support the formalisation of the used-vehicle industry and increase investor confidence in the automotive sector.
In addition to the PVoC programme, the GSA announced plans to implement the Vehicle Dealer Information System (VEDIS), an integrated digital platform that will connect data from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), insurance companies, Interpol, National Security and other institutions.
The system is expected to enable real-time verification of vehicle records, helping authorities detect stolen vehicles, improve traceability and strengthen regulation of the vehicle import and registration process.
Mr. Jabanyite said the integration of these databases would ensure that only legally imported and roadworthy vehicles enter the Ghanaian market, while improving coordination among regulatory and security agencies.
The reforms form part of the government’s efforts to strengthen vehicle import regulation, improve road safety and modernise Ghana’s automotive sector.
