The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has announced October 1, 2026, as the enforcement date for the Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) programme for vehicle imports.

The programme is aimed at ensuring that all used vehicles imported into Ghana comply with GS 4510, the national standard governing the importation of used vehicles, before they are shipped from their country of origin.

The PVoC programme is expected to prevent the importation of substandard and unsafe vehicles, ensure compliance with Ghana's safety and environmental standards, improve the traceability of imported vehicles, and protect consumers as well as the environment.

Under the programme, inspections will be carried out based on the requirements of GS 4510. Vehicles with major damage will not be allowed into the country.

These include vehicles that have been submerged in water or damaged by floods, burnt or consumed by fire, as well as those with damaged chassis or safety cages, including broken, cracked, bent or twisted structures.

The standard also prohibits the importation of originally manufactured right-hand-drive vehicles, vehicles assembled from spare parts, vehicles without speedometer readings in kilometres per hour (km/h), and over-aged vehicles that are more than 10 years old.

The implementation of the PVoC programme is expected to improve the quality and safety of vehicles imported into Ghana, provide better value for money for consumers, and strengthen regulation within the country's automotive market.

The GSA also believes the programme will support the formalisation of the domestic used-vehicle industry, improve access to vehicle financing, and boost investor confidence in the sector.

Deputy Director-General in charge of General Services at the GSA, Samuel Abdulai Jabanyite, speaking on Thursday, July 30, during a stakeholder engagement session with journalists, mentioned that the initiative now has the support of stakeholders who had previously opposed its implementation.

Speaking to journalists after a stakeholder engagement, he said the measure is also intended to help reduce road crashes.

"We are trying to plug a major loophole that all the waste, especially when it comes to the automotive industry, coming into our country as a dumping ground and that will be killing our people and causing environmental hazards to us, will now be a thing of the past."

He further explained that the inspection process would focus on identifying vehicles that pose significant safety risks while allowing those that can be repaired to meet roadworthiness standards.

"We will not compromise on that. When cars are flooded, when they are burnt, these are things that we have set aside. But those things that can be replaced and make it road-worthy when they come to Ghana, we allow that. So the third-party inspectors who will be doing this job on our behalf have all these things, and they have the capacity to undertake this."

Meanwhile, the GSA will also roll out the Vehicle Dealer Information System (VEDIS) to help curb the importation and registration of stolen vehicles.

According to Mr Jabanyite, the system will integrate data from key state institutions, enabling real-time information sharing to strengthen vehicle verification and regulation.

"What it simply means is that we are going to let systems speak with one another. Like DVLA, GSA has it standard. It is sitting somewhere in a component. DVLA has information or data seated somewhere. Insurance has its data seated somewhere. Interpol has its data. National Security has its data.

“VEDIS is going to build a network that will connect all these systems and be able to provide information to the user in real-time situations. So basically, when we develop this system and it is working, it is going to ensure that vehicle theft and vehicles that are road-worthy are those that can come into the country."

Provisions of GS 4510

Under GS 4510, Ghana’s national standard for imported used vehicles, several important requirements must be met before cars are shipped into the country.

Every used vehicle must first undergo inspection in its country of origin and obtain a Certificate of Conformance. This ensures that the vehicle complies with Ghana’s safety and emissions standards before shipment.

The standard also sets a strict vehicle age limit. Cars older than ten years from the date of manufacture are prohibited from importation. In addition, vehicles with cracked, bent, or twisted chassis are not allowed, as they pose serious safety risks.

Another provision is the ban on right‑hand drive vehicles. Such vehicles cannot be imported unless they are properly converted to left‑hand drive and certified.

On environmental grounds, GS 4510 requires all imported vehicles to meet at least the Euro II exhaust emissions standard, reducing harmful pollutants.

Finally, the standard mandates that all vehicles must have speedometers calibrated in kilometres per hour, ensuring consistency with Ghana’s road system.