By Nii Martey M. Botchway
Accra, Oct. 6, GNA – The Vehicle Import Dealers Association of Ghana has welcomed the Ghana Standards Authority’s (GSA) suspension of the mandatory pre-shipment inspection regime for imported used vehicles, describing the decision as a major milestone for the industry.
The GSA announced the suspension in a public notice dated Monday, October 5, 2026, signed by its Director-General, Professor George Agyei.
The Authority said a new implementation date would be communicated in due course but did not give reasons for the suspension.
Reacting to the decision, the Association, led by its President, Mr Humphrey Datsomor, expressed appreciation to the government, the GSA and other stakeholders who supported the suspension.
In a statement, the Association described the development as a “major milestone”, saying it provided an opportunity for a thorough review of the policy and the development of what it described as a more appropriate implementation framework.
The Association said it was not opposed to the objectives of the policy, particularly efforts to improve vehicle safety and standards within Ghana’s automotive industry.
It, however, expressed concern about an implementation model that it said could increase the cost of doing business, place additional financial burdens on local vehicle importers and negatively affect trade.
*Call for broader consultations*
The Association called for renewed engagement among vehicle importers, policymakers and other stakeholders following the suspension.
It said the consultations should focus on developing a framework that promoted local job creation, protected the country’s foreign exchange reserves and avoided unnecessary increases in the cost of doing business.
The Association also expressed appreciation to President John Dramani Mahama and Prof. Agyei for what it described as their responsiveness to concerns raised by industry stakeholders.
*Policy suspended*
The pre-shipment inspection regime was scheduled for implementation from October 1, 2026, under the Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) programme.
The programme required imported used vehicles to undergo conformity checks before shipment to Ghana, as part of the GSA’s broader efforts to ensure that vehicles entering the country met applicable safety, quality and technical standards.
Under the proposed regime, used vehicles were to be inspected against Ghana Standard GS 4510 – Requirements for the Importation of Used Vehicles, with non-conforming vehicles identified before shipment.
The GSA had said the programme was intended to protect consumers from unsafe, substandard and environmentally harmful vehicles while promoting a safer and more regulated automotive industry.
*Industry concerns*
Before the suspension, vehicle import dealers, shippers and freight forwarders had called for the policy to be suspended or reconsidered, arguing for broader consultations on its implementation.
Some industry stakeholders had also proposed that the required inspections be conducted at Ghana’s ports of entry rather than in the countries of origin.
With the effective date now suspended, the Association is calling for further consultations to help shape the eventual framework.
The GSA is yet to announce a new date for implementation.
GNA
Nii Martey M. Botchway
Email :
[email protected]
Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong