The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has suspended the implementation of the mandatory pre‑shipment inspection for used vehicles destined for Ghana. The Authority said a new implementation date will be communicated in due course, meaning importers will, for now, not be required to pay the planned inspection fee of between $200 and $300 before their vehicles are shipped to the country.
The inspection requirement was introduced under the GSA’s FlexiPass Programme, which was designed to ensure that imported used cars meet applicable safety and quality standards. Under the proposed fee structure, importers of vehicles from Japan would pay $200, while those from China, India, Korea, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and African countries would pay $250. The highest fee of $300 would apply to vehicles from the United Kingdom, Europe, the United States, Canada, South America, Australia and New Zealand.
Inspections were to be conducted by either of two GSA‑approved bodies, Autoterminal Japan or EAA Company Limited. Vehicles that failed to meet GS 4510 standards would not receive a FlexiPass certificate and would consequently be prohibited from entering Ghana.
The GSA had planned to introduce the mandatory inspection alongside stricter controls on used vehicle imports. Effective October 1, 2026, the Authority began enforcing a ban on the importation of used vehicles more than 15 years old, and the revised rules also prohibit the importation of vehicles damaged by floods or fire, those with broken or twisted chassis or safety cages, vehicles assembled from spare parts, and those without speedometers displaying readings in kilometres per hour.
With the suspension in place, importers are currently exempt from the inspection fee, but the GSA has not yet clarified when the FlexiPass programme will resume. Stakeholders are advised to monitor official announcements for updates on the new implementation date and any changes to import requirements.
