Accra: The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has announced that it will enforce mandatory compliance with national vehicle standards for all imported vehicles starting October 1, 2026. The enforcement aims to regulate the automotive industry and ensure that vehicles meet national safety, quality, and environmental standards.
According to Ghana News Agency, the directive was detailed in a statement from the Public Relations Department of the GSA. It urges manufacturers, assemblers, importers, distributors, and dealers to familiarize themselves with the applicable requirements and ensure compliance before shipping vehicles into Ghana. The statement highlighted that the enforcement will cover national vehicle standards, including Ghana Standard 4510 (GS 4510), which pertains to the importation of used vehicles.
The GSA National Vehicle Homologation and Conformity Assessment Programme, operational since 2020, was established to ensure compliance with these standards. This initiative seeks to protect consumers from unsafe, substandard, and environmentally harmful vehicles while promoting a safer and more regulated automotive industry. All new vehicle manufacturers and assemblers, as well as used vehicle importers, distributors, and dealers, must register with the GSA. New vehicle models are required to undergo homologation, while used vehicles must conform to applicable standards prior to shipment to Ghana.
Vehicles failing to meet the prescribed requirements will not be permitted for importation into the country upon arrival. However, the statement clarified that this does not constitute a ban on the importation of used vehicles.
Mr. Kingsley Domena Yeboah, a Standards Officer at the GSA, indicated that a well-developed automotive industry could reduce Ghana's dependence on imported vehicles. He emphasized that this would foster local assembly and manufacturing, improve public transport efficiency, and strengthen standards.
Research shows that Ghana imports over 90 percent used vehicles and about 10 percent new vehicles. The country also imports a significant number of pre-owned, accident, flooded, burnt, right-hand drive, and overaged vehicles. Mr. Yeboah noted that approximately 90 percent of used vehicles imported have no after-sales service support, posing a challenge to the growth of the electric vehicle market.
The Ghana Standards Authority Act, 2022 (Act 1078), empowers the Authority to establish, promulgate, and maintain standards to ensure the quality of goods and services imported for local consumption.