Used Household Goods and Personal Effects
Documents Required
- Copy of valid passport with entry visa
- Packing list
- Original bill of lading (OBL) – no express release / air waybill (AWB)
- Detailed valued inventory French, signed, and dated by the owner of the goods
- Letter from the employer stating that the client is starting a new contract in Ghana
- PUBD form (personal unaccompanied baggage declaration) to be filled out at the airport of arrival
- Failure to do so will attract heavy penalties and delays in Customs clearance
- Invoice for the electrical and hi-fi appliances and for all the items bought less than 6 months before the shipment’s arrival
Specific Information
- Diplomatic shipments can be imported duty free, provided that the diplomatic organization has received the exemption certificate from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- To apply for this exemption, original documents are needed (including the original AWB) at least 14 days prior to arrival of the shipment.
- Agents must have all Customs documents at least 15 days prior to the shipment’s arrival to Ghana in order to obtain the document for free entry.
- “Diplomatic shipment” to be shown on the OBL / AWB.
Motor Vehicles
Documents Required
- Original registration card
- Copy of purchase invoice
- Certificate of ownership
- OBL
- Non-sale certificate
Specific Information
- The OBL must show chassis number, engine number, cylindrical power, cubic capacity, year of manufacture, brand, and model of vehicle.
- This information must also be available on at least one of the official car documents provided (certificate of ownership, car title, car invoice, etc.).
- Cars up to 10 years can be imported in Ghana but will be taxed.
- Right hand drive vehicles are banned.
- Cylinder capacity below 1900 cc : 10% C.I.F. value (import duty).
- Cylinder capacity below 2500 cc : add V.A.T. of 10% C.I.G. value and import duty.
- Cylinder capacity over 2500 cc : add special tax of 17.5% CIF value = V.A.T. + import duty.
Pets
Documents Required
- Vaccination record
- Veterinary health certificate
- Import permit (from the veterinary head office in Accra)
Specific Information
- Documents must be presented for pet entry into Ghana.
Restricted/Dutiable Items
- Firearms and ammunitions (authorization from the territorial administration is required)
- Drugs
- Alcohol (“Fond de Cave”) is acceptable and duty free (max 20 bottles)
- Rough or uncut diamonds (license from the Ministry of Finance required)
- Live plants and plant products (a permit from the Ministry of Agriculture is required)
- Poultry products (permission from the Ministries of Trade and Agriculture is required for certain countries); contact agent for specific information.
Prohibited Items
- Used refrigerator, used air conditioner, and used deep freezer regardless of owner of the goods’ status
- Firearms and ammunition are permitted subject to authorization from the territorial administration
- Unlawful drugs
- Foreign cigarettes without warning notice
- Mercuric medicated soap
- Toxic waste, contaminated goods
- Animals as well as plant and seeds infected with disease
- Foreign soil
- Pornography, defamatory, obscene articles or publications
- Dangerous weapons (including flick and paper knives)
- Alcohol and other spirits are allowed in reasonable quantity (maximum of 10 bottles. Duties will be levied for the excess)
Consignment Instructions
Recommended: Contact the destination agent to ensure all requirements have been met prior to import, especially for differences regarding air / sea shipments.