The Vehicle Import Dealers Association of Ghana has welcomed the Ghana Standards Authority’s (GSA) suspension of a mandatory pre-shipment inspection policy for imported used vehicles.
The suspension was announced in a public notice dated Monday, October 5, 2026, and signed by the GSA Director-General, Professor George Agyei.
The Authority said it would announce a new implementation date in due course but did not give a reason for putting the policy on hold.
The association, led by its President Humphrey Datsomor, thanked the government, the GSA and other stakeholders who supported the suspension.
In a statement, it described the decision as a “major milestone”, saying it created an opportunity for a detailed review of the policy and the preparation of a more suitable implementation framework.
The association said it did not oppose the policy’s objectives, including efforts to improve safety and standards in Ghana’s automotive industry.
However, it objected to the proposed implementation model, arguing that it would raise the cost of doing business, create additional pressures for local vehicle importers and potentially affect trade.
It called for further discussions involving industry representatives, policymakers and other stakeholders now that the policy has been suspended.
According to the association, those talks should seek to establish a framework that supports local job creation, protects Ghana’s foreign exchange reserves and prevents unnecessary increases in business costs.
It also thanked President John Dramani Mahama and Professor George Agyei for responding to concerns raised by industry stakeholders.
The GSA’s policy had been due to come into force on October 1, 2026, under the Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) programme.
Under the scheme, imported used vehicles would have been required to undergo conformity checks before being shipped to Ghana. The GSA has said the wider programme is intended to ensure imported vehicles comply with Ghana’s safety and technical standards.
Vehicle import dealers, shippers and freight forwarders had previously called for the policy to be suspended or reviewed. They proposed that the inspections should instead be carried out at Ghana’s ports of entry.
The suspension follows those concerns and has prompted renewed calls for consultation on the policy’s eventual framework.
The GSA has not yet announced a new date for implementation.
