The Vehicle Import Dealers Association of Ghana has welcomed the suspension of the Ghana Standards Authority’s planned mandatory pre-shipment inspection regime for imported used vehicles.
The GSA announced the decision in a public notice dated Monday, October 5, 2026, signed by its Director-General, Professor George Agyei. The Authority said a new date for the implementation of the policy would be announced later, but did not provide reasons for the suspension.
Reacting to the development, the Association, led by its President, Humphrey Datsomor, expressed appreciation to the government, the GSA and other stakeholders who contributed to the decision. The Association described the suspension as a “major milestone”, saying it creates room for further assessment of the policy and the formulation of a more suitable implementation framework.
The dealers stressed that they support efforts to improve vehicle safety and uphold standards in Ghana’s automotive sector. However, they maintained that the implementation of such measures should not unnecessarily raise the cost of importing vehicles or create additional financial pressure for local businesses.
The Association is therefore calling for renewed consultations involving vehicle importers, policymakers and other industry stakeholders. It wants the discussions to produce a framework that supports local employment, safeguards the country’s foreign exchange reserves and prevents avoidable increases in the cost of doing business.
The Association also commended President John Dramani Mahama and Professor George Agyei for responding to concerns raised by industry players.
The pre-shipment inspection policy was originally scheduled to take effect on October 1, 2026, under the Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) programme. The policy requires imported used vehicles to undergo conformity checks before they are shipped to Ghana, as part of efforts by the GSA to ensure that vehicles entering the country meet required safety and technical standards.
Vehicle import dealers, shippers and freight forwarders had earlier urged the authorities to suspend or reconsider the policy, with some proposing that the required inspections be conducted at Ghana’s ports instead.
Following the suspension, industry stakeholders are seeking further engagement with the GSA and government on the policy and its eventual implementation framework.
The GSA has not yet announced a new date for the implementation of the pre-shipment inspection requirement.
Story by Freedom Etsey Lavoe