Ghana to ban imports of vehicles over 15 years old from 2026

The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has announced new restrictions on vehicle imports effective October 1, 2026. Under the new regulations, the country will prohibit the importation of used vehicles older than 15 years, as well as cars that have sustained damage from fire or floods. Other prohibited vehicles include those with cracked or bent chassis, cars assembled from spare parts, and those lacking speedometers that display speed in kilometers per hour.

To comply, importers and dealers must register with the GSA Vehicle Homologation Unit. Used vehicles must undergo inspection in their country of origin by a GSA-approved company and must be accompanied by a Certificate of Conformance. Vehicles shipped before the October 2026 deadline or those already present in the country will be exempt.

In a related discussion regarding the nation's automotive future, Professor Robert Ebo Hinson of the University of Ghana Business School urged a strategic shift from vehicle importation toward local assembly and manufacturing. Speaking at the Zonda Tech Auto Show and Exhibition, Hinson suggested that developing local assembly capacity could boost the economy and job creation, citing the rapid expansion of Chinese vehicle brands in other African markets as a potential model for growth.