Ghana Bans Import of Used Vehicles Over 15 Years Old From October 2026 — What You Need to Know
GSA Public Notice No. GSA/DGS/PN/26/09 sets a hard eligibility bar on top of GRA's duty penalties — here's what's actually changing, who it affects, and the one date that matters.
On 14 August 2026, the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) issued Public Notice No. GSA/DGS/PN/26/09, setting out how it will enforce the Ghana Standard for imported used vehicles starting 1 October 2026. It supersedes an earlier notice (GSA/DGS/PN/26/08) and is the clearest signal yet that a vehicle's condition and age, not just customs duty, will decide whether it's allowed into the country at all.
This is separate from the duty and tax math our duty calculator handles — GRA's overage penalty (5%–50% of CIF for vehicles over 10 years old) still applies on top. What's new here is a hard import eligibility rule from GSA, enforced at the port.
What's now prohibited
From 1 October 2026, GSA will refuse entry to any used vehicle that is:
Submerged in water or flood-damaged
Burnt or damaged by fire
Suffering chassis or safety-cage damage (broken, cracked, bent, or twisted)
Assembled from spare parts
Without a speedometer reading in kilometers per hour
Over fifteen (15) years old
Any one of these is enough to block importation on arrival.
The exemption: what's already shipped or already here is safe
"Vehicles that were shipped before 1st October 2026, even if they arrive in Ghana after the implementation date, will not be affected by the new import requirements. Similarly, vehicles already in Ghana prior to the implementation date are exempt."
In practice, the trigger is the shipping date, not the arrival date. If you're planning to import a vehicle that would otherwise fall foul of the new rules — most commonly the 15-year age cutoff — it needs to be on a vessel before 1 October 2026, or already landed in Ghana.
New paperwork for importers and dealers
Separate from the prohibited-vehicle list, GSA is introducing a registration and certification regime:
New vehicle importers, distributors, manufacturers, and assemblers must register with the GSA Vehicle Homologation Unit (GSA Auto Unit) and ensure new models are homologated before shipment.
Used vehicle importers, distributors, and dealers must also register with the GSA Auto Unit. Every used unit needs inspection in its country of origin by a GSA-approved third-party inspection body, which issues a Certificate of Conformance (CoC) confirming it meets Ghana Standards.
Vehicles that don't meet the requirements — including a missing CoC — won't be permitted to land, regardless of age or condition.
What to do before 1 October 2026
If you're mid-purchase on a used vehicle older than 15 years, or unsure of its condition, confirm the shipping date with your dealer or shipper — it must be locked in before the deadline to qualify for the exemption.
If you're a dealer or distributor, register with the GSA Vehicle Homologation Unit now rather than in September.
Ask your overseas dealer or auction house directly about flood, fire, and chassis history, and speedometer units — none of that shows up in the paperwork our calculator or a GRA duty assessment uses.
Contact
GSA Vehicle Homologation Unit — [email protected] — 030 398 0177, 0256061634, 0557088261.
This notice governs whether a vehicle can be imported — it doesn't change how much duty you'll pay on one that qualifies. For that, run your numbers through the Ghana Duty calculator, which already reflects GRA's overage penalty bands.
This article summarizes Ghana Standards Authority Public Notice No. GSA/DGS/PN/26/09 (14 August 2026) for informational purposes. It is not legal advice — for the full text and FAQ brochure, contact GSA directly.
