Short answer: not simply, and the rules are still moving. The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) says right-hand-steering vehicles are not allowed into Ghana unless the Minister of Trade grants a dispensation, and cars built for the Japanese market have the steering wheel on the right. Separately, the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) announced that from 1 October 2026 used vehicles over 15 years old, and vehicles that were flooded, burnt, structurally damaged, assembled from spare parts or without a km/h speedometer, are prohibited, and that each used vehicle needs a pre-shipment inspection. On 5 October 2026 the GSA suspended the pre-shipment inspection and said it would announce a new date. We found no GSA statement on whether the prohibited categories still apply. We checked the points below against the GSA, the GRA and press reports on 2 November 2026.
Key points (checked 2 November 2026)
- Steering: GRA’s guidance says right-hand-steering vehicles are not allowed in, that only the Minister of Trade can grant a dispensation, and that Customs has such vehicles dismantled and held until they are refitted with left-hand steering.
- Age and condition: GSA’s notice of 14 August 2026 prohibits used vehicles over 15 years old and those that are flood-damaged, burnt, structurally damaged, assembled from spare parts or without a km/h speedometer. Vehicles shipped before 1 October 2026 are not affected.
- Inspection: GSA suspended the pre-shipment inspection on 5 October 2026 (notice GSA/DGS/PN/26/11). No new date has been announced.
- Inspectors for Japan: GSA’s October 2026 notice names Autoterminal Japan and EAA Company Limited, with a fee of US$200 for a vehicle from Japan.
- Cost: Customs values a used car from the manufacturer’s price less an age discount of up to 50%, then charges duty and, according to the Graphic, an over-age penalty on cars more than 10 years old.
- Court: a lawyer sued the GSA on 5 October 2026 over enforcement of the standards. We found no ruling.
Rule 1: the steering position
GRA’s guidance on importing a vehicle says that, under customs law, right-hand-steering vehicles are not allowed into the country. It says a policy dispensation can be considered if the importer applies, that this is a right only the Minister of Trade reserves, and that Customs has right-hand-steering vehicles dismantled and held until they are refitted with left-hand steering before they can use the roads. The page carries no date. The Customs Act, 2015 (Act 891) has a section headed “Prohibited motor vehicle”, but we could not open its text, so we rely on GRA’s description.
Other sources point the same way. A note by the US International Trade Administration dated 17 January 2023 listed vehicles originally built right-hand drive among the used vehicles Ghana prohibits. YEN reported on 7 August 2026 on a GSA notice dated 5 August that listed vehicles originally built right-hand drive. The GSA’s notice of 14 August says it supersedes earlier communiqués, and its list of prohibited vehicles does not mention steering position. The GSA’s FAQ also says the programme does not replace existing statutory requirements, including customs requirements. We read that as the customs rule still applying, but we found no GSA or GRA statement that says so in terms.
What this means for a car from Japan: Japan drives on the left, so cars built for the Japanese market are right-hand drive. By GRA’s description, such a car cannot enter Ghana unless the Minister of Trade has granted a dispensation. A car built left-hand drive is not affected by this rule. We do not advise buying a right-hand-drive car for Ghana without that dispensation in writing.
Rule 2: the GSA vehicle standard
GSA Public Notice No. GSA/DGS/PN/26/09 of 14 August 2026 says that from 1 October 2026 used vehicles with any of these characteristics are prohibited from importation:
- submerged in water or flood-damaged
- burnt or damaged by fire
- chassis or safety-cage damage (broken, cracked, bent or twisted)
- assembled from spare parts
- without a speedometer reading in kilometres per hour
- over 15 years old
The notice says every used vehicle must be inspected in its country of origin by a GSA-approved third-party inspection body, which issues a Certificate of Conformance, and that used vehicle importers, distributors and dealers must register with the GSA Vehicle Homologation Unit. The GSA’s FAQ brochure (issue 01, 12 August 2026) says individuals importing for personal use and businesses importing for use or sale must register, and that certificates are uploaded to VEDIS, a vehicle and dealership information platform run by the managers of the customs system ICUMS, for checking at the port.
The FAQ defines a used vehicle as one that has been previously owned and registered, is more than 12 months from its date of manufacture and has a mileage above 1,500 km. Neither document says from which date the 15 years are counted. YEN’s report on the GSA’s earlier notice counted vehicle age from the date of manufacture, so ask the GSA before you buy a car close to the limit.
The GSA says vehicles shipped before 1 October 2026 are not affected, even if they arrive after that date, and that vehicles already in Ghana are exempt.
What changed on 5 October 2026
- The suspension: the GSA issued notice GSA/DGS/PN/26/11 on 5 October 2026, signed by Director-General Prof. George Agyei, saying the pre-shipment inspection exercise for imported used vehicles has been suspended and that a new implementation date will be communicated in due course. Press reports say the notice gave no reason.
- What we could not confirm: we could not open the notice itself. The press reports we read describe the suspension of the inspection only. We found no GSA statement on whether the age limit, the damage categories or the importer registration are also suspended, and none withdrawing the 14 August notice.
- The dealers’ reaction: the Chamber of Autodata Ghana thanked the government on 6 October and urged its members to “continue to comply with existing regulations”. It listed requests still open: a phased transition for vehicles already bought or in transit, a published fee schedule with the list of accredited inspection bodies, separate treatment for commercial haulage vehicles, and written clarification on any annual licence fee or import volume limit.
- The court case: the Graphic reports that a lawyer, Alex Dodoo, filed a suit in the High Court in Accra on 5 October 2026. It asks the court to declare strict enforcement of the National Vehicle Standards unlawful and to stop the GSA enforcing its notices of 3 and 14 August, on the argument that only the Minister of Trade can make a standard mandatory. The GSA received the writ on 9 October. No hearing date was reported.
The 14 August notice has not been withdrawn in anything we read, but we cannot confirm how Customs and the GSA are applying it at the ports today. Contact the GSA Vehicle Homologation Unit (auto@gsa.gov.gh, 030 398 0177) before you ship.
The inspection companies named for Japan
A GSA public notice on approved inspection agents under its FlexiPass programme names two companies: Autoterminal Japan (ATJ) and EAA Company Limited (EAA). It says only inspection results and certificates issued by these two agents are recognised by the GSA. For a vehicle from Japan it lists a FlexiPass fee of US$200. The file name of the notice carries 4 October 2026, the day before the suspension, and the notice itself is dated “October 2026”. It also tells importers to pay only the approved fee and to report any request for more to the GSA.
Because the inspection exercise is suspended, ask the GSA whether a certificate and the fee are required now before you pay an inspection company.
Duty, valuation and the over-age penalty
GRA’s guidance describes how a used vehicle is valued. The Graphic’s explainer of 23 July 2026 adds the depreciation bands and the duty bands.
| Step | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Starting value | The first purchase price, meaning the manufacturer’s price when the car was made, not the price you paid. The Graphic calls it the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, or Home Delivery Value |
| Age discount | GRA says 0% to 50% by age, giving a FOB value. The Graphic gives 15% (6 months to 1.5 years), 30% (1.5 to 2.5 years), 40% (2.5 to 5 years) and 50% above 5 years, the maximum, even for cars over 10 years old |
| Exchange rate and freight | The current exchange rate is applied, then freight and insurance are added to reach the CIF value |
| Import duty | Charged on the CIF value. The Graphic gives bands of 5%, 10% and 20% by vehicle type and engine size |
| Over-age penalty | Charged on the CIF value. The Graphic says cars more than 10 years old attract it, and gives no rate. We found conflicting rates in secondary sources and none on GRA’s page, so we give none |
| Examination fee | Charged on the CIF value, for used vehicles only. GRA’s page gives no amount |
| VAT | Charged on the CIF value plus duty, NHIL and the GETFund levy. GRA’s page gives no rates |
GRA says you can estimate the duty in ICUMS from the chassis number or VIN, make, model and year, and it links a Used Vehicle Duty Calculator. The Graphic notes the result is an estimate and the final assessment happens during customs processing.
Before you buy: a checklist
- Steering: whether the car is left-hand or right-hand drive. If it is right-hand drive, the Minister’s dispensation in writing before you buy.
- Age: the year of manufacture and the date of first registration. The GSA limit is 15 years, and the Graphic says Customs charges an over-age penalty from 10 years.
- Condition: that the car was not flooded, burnt or structurally damaged, was not assembled from spare parts and has a km/h speedometer.
- Registration: that the importer is registered with the GSA Vehicle Homologation Unit.
- Inspection: whether the GSA now requires a Certificate of Conformance, and if so that it comes from ATJ or EAA.
- Cost: an ICUMS estimate from the VIN and a written quote from your clearing agent.
- The seller: that the exporter is a genuine registered company, before you send any money.
More on importing a Japanese car
Read our guide to reading a Japanese auction sheet before you bid.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an age limit for used cars in Ghana?
The GSA’s notice of 14 August 2026 prohibits used vehicles over 15 years old. The GSA suspended the pre-shipment inspection on 5 October 2026, and we found no statement lifting the age limit. Customs also charges an over-age penalty on cars more than 10 years old, according to the Graphic.
Can I import a right-hand-drive car from Japan?
GRA’s guidance says right-hand-steering vehicles are not allowed in unless the Minister of Trade grants a dispensation, and that Customs holds such vehicles until they are refitted with left-hand steering.
Do I need an inspection certificate now?
The GSA suspended the pre-shipment inspection on 5 October 2026 and said a new date would follow. Ask the GSA Vehicle Homologation Unit whether a certificate is required for your shipment.
Are cars that already shipped affected?
The GSA says vehicles shipped before 1 October 2026 are not affected by the new requirements, even if they arrive later, and that vehicles already in Ghana are exempt.
Which inspection companies cover Japan?
GSA’s October 2026 notice names Autoterminal Japan and EAA Company Limited, with a fee of US$200 for vehicles from Japan.
How much duty will I pay?
We found no complete figure we can verify. Customs values the car from the manufacturer’s price less an age discount, and charges duty, an over-age penalty on older cars, an examination fee and VAT. Use the ICUMS duty calculator with the VIN and ask your clearing agent for a written quote.
Has a court stopped the rules?
A lawyer filed a suit against the GSA on 5 October 2026. We found no ruling or hearing date in the reports we read.
Last checked 2 November 2026
We wrote this guide from the sources listed below on 2 November 2026. We could not open the Customs Act, 2015 or the text of the 5 October suspension notice, so we relied on GRA’s page and press reports for both. We found no GRA statement of the over-age penalty rate. Ghana’s vehicle rules have changed several times since August 2026, so check them again before you ship.
Sources
- Ghana Standards Authority, Public Notice GSA/DGS/PN/26/09: administrative implementation framework for the enforcement of national vehicle standards, 14 August 2026
- Ghana Standards Authority, Ghana Vehicle Homologation and Conformity Assessment Programme FAQs, issue 01, 12 August 2026
- Ghana Standards Authority, Public notice on GSA-approved inspection agents for used motor vehicles (FlexiPass), October 2026
- Ghana Revenue Authority, guidance on importing a vehicle (right-hand steering and used vehicle valuation; undated)
- Graphic Online, Why similar vehicles attract different import duty rates, 23 July 2026
- Graphic Online, GSA suspends Pre-Shipment Inspection for imported used vehicles, October 2026
- MyJoyOnline, GSA suspends pre-shipment inspection of imported used vehicles, 5 October 2026
- Chamber of Autodata Ghana, press release thanking the government for suspending pre-shipment inspection, 6 October 2026
- Graphic Online, Standards Authority sued over used-vehicle import ban, October 2026
- YEN, List of car categories to be affected by the Ghana Standards Authority vehicle import ban, 7 August 2026
- US International Trade Administration, Ghana automotive: new safety and conformity requirements for used vehicles, 17 January 2023
Ready to Import Your Next Vehicle?
Qualitex Trading Japan provides direct access to over 100,000+ Japanese used cars at auction prices. We handle bidding, inspection, and global shipping.