The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has outlined inspection fees and approved inspection networks for used vehicles being imported into Ghana under its FlexiPass Programme. The programme aims to ensure that used vehicles meet Ghana's required standards before they are shipped into the country. Vehicles must be inspected and certified before shipment by GSA-approved agents. The approved inspection network covers 15 countries across five regions.
The GSA has approved two inspection companies to carry out the checks: AutoTerminal Japan (ATJ) and EAA Company Limited (EAA). Together, the two companies operate more than 100 inspection locations across 15 countries and five regions. Only inspection results and certificates issued by the two approved agents will be recognised by the GSA under the FlexiPass Programme.
The inspection forms part of the Pre-Shipment Verification of Conformity (PVOC) under Ghana Standard GS 4510. Vehicle importers must select one of the approved inspection agents and arrange for the vehicle to be inspected before it is shipped to Ghana. The importer is required to submit a GSA Pre-Shipment Inspection Request Form, together with the vehicle and relevant export documents, to the appropriate inspection agent.
Vehicles that meet the requirements of GS 4510 will receive a FlexiPass inspection certificate and can be shipped to Ghana. However, vehicles that do not meet the required standards will not receive a certificate and will not be permitted to be exported to Ghana under the programme. The GSA said the system allows vehicles that do not meet Ghana's standards to be identified before shipment, helping importers avoid spending money on freight and other charges.
Inspection fees are based on the country of origin of the vehicle. According to the GSA, Ghana's FlexiPass fees are at or below the standard global PVOC rates. The charges range from $200 to $300, depending on the country of origin. For example, vehicles from Japan have a fee of $200, while those from the United Kingdom and European countries have a fee of $300.
The approved inspection network covers major vehicle-exporting markets across Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Europe, the Americas and Africa. The countries covered include Japan, China, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, India, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany, the United States, Canada, Mexico and South Africa. ATJ operates 56 inspection centres, while EAA operates 48 locations.
The GSA's breakdown shows the number of ATJ and EAA inspection locations available in each country. Japan has the largest number of inspection locations, while the network also covers key vehicle-exporting markets in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, North America and Africa. The GSA said mobile inspection is available in addition to the fixed inspection locations, and the inspection network can be expanded to other countries and locations depending on demand.
Key points
- The Ghana Standards Authority has outlined inspection fees and approved inspection networks for used vehicles imported under the FlexiPass Programme.
- The programme aims to ensure that used vehicles meet Ghana's required standards before they are shipped into the country.
- Inspection fees range from $200 to $300, depending on the country of origin of the vehicle.
