Ghana to Ban Right‑Hand‑Drive, Flood‑Damaged and Over‑Aged Used Cars from October

The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) will begin enforcing a Pre‑Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) programme for all used‑vehicle imports on 1 October. Under the new rules, vehicles must comply with the national standard GS 4510 before shipment, and the GSA will prohibit the entry of right‑hand‑drive models, cars older than ten years, vehicles assembled from spare parts, those without speedometers calibrated in kilometres per hour, and any that have suffered major structural damage such as flooding or fire.

Deputy Director‑General Samuel Abdulai Jabanyite said the measure aims to curb road crashes, prevent Ghana from becoming a dumping ground for substandard vehicles, and protect consumers and the environment. The programme is also expected to improve traceability, support formalisation of the used‑vehicle market, enhance access to financing and boost investor confidence in Ghana’s automotive sector.