Vehicle importers, shippers and freight forwarders in Ghana are urging the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) to suspend or reconsider its mandatory Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) programme for imported vehicles.
The scheme came into force on 1 October 2026 and requires used vehicles bound for Ghana to undergo conformity checks in their country of origin before they can be shipped. The process is designed to confirm compliance with Ghanaian standards, including GS 4510.
The GSA says the policy is intended to improve road safety, protect consumers and stop vehicles that fail to meet the required standards from entering the Ghanaian market.
However, members of the Vehicle Import Dealers Association of Ghana, along with shippers and freight forwarders, say the implementation has created concerns for businesses involved in the automotive trade. They are calling for wider consultations before the system becomes fully established.
The industry has proposed that used and salvaged vehicles should instead be inspected by the GSA at Ghana’s ports of entry. The stakeholders want the Parliamentary Select Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism to engage the Authority and encourage consideration of a port-based inspection model.
They argue that inspections in Ghana would allow the regulator to examine vehicles directly on arrival while providing more opportunities for dialogue with importers, dealers, shippers and other industry representatives.
The groups stress that they are not opposed to vehicle safety or conformity standards. Their objections concern the timing, process and practical operation of making pre-shipment verification compulsory.
The policy has also raised concerns among vehicle shippers in the United States, where vehicles destined for Ghana must now satisfy the conformity requirements before departure. Some U.S.-based shipping operators say the change has caused uncertainty, particularly when verification has not been completed for vehicles being prepared for export.
By moving a key stage of compliance from Ghanaian ports to the country of origin, the new regime could affect the ability of exporters and shipping companies to load vehicles until the necessary checks have been completed.
The Vehicle Import Dealers Association of Ghana has warned that the policy could affect import volumes and the wider automotive trade. It says some businesses may struggle to continue operating if the arrangements are not carefully reviewed.
Industry representatives are seeking clearer information about the inspection process, certification requirements and how the programme will apply across different vehicle-exporting countries. They want a system that protects consumers and enforces safety standards without unnecessarily disrupting importers, freight forwarders and international shipping companies.
The GSA maintains that vehicles should demonstrate conformity through the prescribed verification and certification process before being shipped to Ghana. It has worked with designated inspection partners to begin pre-shipment inspections and issue Certificates of Conformity for vehicles exported to the country.
Despite that position, stakeholders are asking Parliament, the GSA and other relevant authorities to continue discussions with the industry. Their stated aim is to make the system practical and transparent while balancing regulatory compliance with the operational realities of importing and shipping vehicles to Ghana.
