Flood-damaged, burnt and over-aged vehicles to be blocked under new GSA regime

The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) announced it will begin enforcing the Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) programme for all vehicle imports from October 1, 2026, in a move aimed at improving road safety and preventing Ghana from becoming a destination for substandard vehicles. The programme will require all used vehicles destined for Ghana to comply with GS 4510, the national standard governing the importation of used vehicles, before they are shipped from their country of origin.

According to the GSA, the initiative is designed to prevent the importation of unsafe and substandard vehicles, ensure compliance with Ghana's safety and environmental standards, improve traceability, and protect consumers. Under the new regime, inspections will be carried out by accredited third-party inspectors based on the requirements of GS 4510. Vehicles that have sustained major structural damage, including those submerged in floodwater, damaged by fire, or with broken, cracked, bent, or twisted chassis or safety cage structures, will not be allowed into the country. The standard also prohibits the importation of originally manufactured right-hand-drive vehicles, vehicles assembled from spare parts, vehicles without speedometers calibrated in kilometres per hour, and vehicles that are more than 10 years old.