The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has urged buyers of used cars to check a vehicle’s customs status before paying for it. The agency stressed that a Ghanaian registration number does not guarantee that a vehicle has been properly cleared through customs.
As MyJoyOnline reports, prospective buyers are advised to take both the vehicle and its registration documents to the nearest customs office. The GRA recommends doing so before completing the transaction rather than relying solely on documents provided by the seller.
Physical inspection of the vehicle
During a Joy FM broadcast on September 8, Emmanuel Tweneboah, a senior GRA revenue officer responsible for preventive control at the car park of the terminal at Kotoka International Airport in Accra, said that sending a customs officer only a Bill of Entry (BOE) or its number is insufficient for verification.
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According to him, customs officers must physically inspect the vehicle and compare its identification details with the documents and customs records. During this procedure, they also use an OBD diagnostic device to verify that the vehicle data matches the available documentation. If the inspection confirms proper clearance, customs may allow the buyer to purchase the vehicle.
Risk of losing money
King Godfred Akorligle, the GRA officer responsible for the National Vehicle Taskforce, advised buyers to insist that the seller come to customs with the vehicle and the documents. He warned that without the necessary inspection, a buyer could lose both the vehicle and the money paid for it.
The GRA noted that customs officers also work at Ghana’s Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority offices, where they confirm data during registration. At the same time, according to Tweneboah, customs has encountered cases of altered vehicle identification numbers (VINs) and other modifications intended to present improperly cleared vehicles as legal.
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