The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has suspended the Pre-Shipment Inspection exercise for imported used vehicles, with a new implementation date to be communicated in due course.
The suspension was announced in a public notice signed by the Director-General of the Authority, Professor George Agyei, on Monday, October 5, 2026.
The notice, numbered GSA/DGS/PN/26/11, said the authority wished to inform vehicle importers and all stakeholders that the pre-shipment inspection exercise for imported used vehicles had been suspended.
The suspension comes despite the authority's earlier reminder that all used motor vehicles destined for Ghana must undergo Pre-Shipment Verification of Conformity by an approved inspection agent under the FlexiPass Programme.
Under the suspended programme, inspections are conducted against GS 4510, with non-conforming vehicles identified before shipment to protect buyers from paying freight and duties on unsafe or non-compliant vehicles. Only inspection results and certificates issued by approved agents are recognised by the authority.
The authority had approved two inspection bodies for the programme, namely Autoterminal Japan and EAA Company Limited, both accredited to ISO/IEC 17020. Together, they operate more than 100 inspection locations in 15 countries across five regions, covering the principal markets from which used vehicles are exported to Ghana.
According to the authority, inspections are conducted to ensure compliance with the same requirements of GS 4510, wherever the country or centre in which the vehicle is inspected. The agents also provide mobile inspection services where a fixed centre is not convenient, attending the exporter's yard, auction site, port terminal or premises by appointment.
Fees under the programme were set by country of origin, with Ghana's FlexiPass fees described as being at or below standard global pre-shipment verification of conformity rates. For Japan, the fee is US$200, while Korea, Singapore and other Asian countries, the People's Republic of China and India, the United Arab Emirates and African countries attract a fee of US$250. The United Kingdom and European countries, the United States of America, North and South America, and Australia and New Zealand attract a fee of US$300.
The authority advised importers to use only approved agents, noting that inspections or certificates from any other entity would not be accepted under the programme. It also urged importers to inspect vehicles before shipping and to instruct their exporters to arrange inspection before the vehicle is loaded.
Importers were further advised to verify before paying, and to confirm with the authority or the agent's official contact listed in the notice if in doubt about an inspection centre or certificate. They were also urged to report any request for payment above the approved fees to the authority.
For further information, the public may contact the authority's Vehicle Homologation Unit via
