Imported Cars: Bawumia Takes Position on Ghana’s Proposed Pre-Shipment Inspection Policy

New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has backed calls to abolish a proposed pre-shipment inspection requirement for imported vehicles following concerns raised by vehicle dealers in Ghana. Dr Bawumia stated his position after meeting with the leadership of the Vehicles and Assets Dealers Union of Ghana (VADUG) to discuss challenges affecting businesses in the vehicle trade.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, he said the proposed inspection regime was among the key issues discussed during the meeting. According to him, both sides agreed that the requirement should be scrapped.

How the Proposed Inspection Policy Would Have Worked

The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) had planned to introduce the requirement under its Pre-Export Verification of Conformity programme. Under the proposal, used vehicles would have been inspected in their countries of origin before being shipped to Ghana. The inspection fees were expected to range from US$200 to US$300 per vehicle, depending on the country of origin.

The proposal raised concerns among industry players, who feared that the additional cost could increase the financial burden on vehicle importers and affect businesses operating in the sector. The GSA subsequently suspended the proposed regime in October 2026 following concerns from industry stakeholders. It indicated that a new implementation date would be communicated.

Beyond the inspection requirement, Dr Bawumia said the meeting also addressed several challenges facing vehicle dealers and importers. These included high import duties, delays in clearing vehicles at Ghana’s ports and access to credit from the Ghana Export-Import Bank (EXIM Bank).

The discussions also covered stronger enforcement of laws intended to protect Ghanaian retailers from unfair competition by foreign businesses. Dr Bawumia described the engagement as fruitful and said representatives of both sides would continue discussions to develop specific policy proposals to address the concerns raised.

The meeting forms part of Dr Bawumia’s consultations with stakeholders on business and economic issues. Although he has backed the call to scrap the proposed inspection regime, the next steps will depend on the relevant authorities and any official policy decisions.

For vehicle importers and dealers, the issue remains important because inspection charges, import duties and port delays can affect the cost of bringing vehicles into Ghana. Any future decision on the proposed regime could therefore have implications for businesses in the vehicle trade and potentially for customers who buy imported cars.

For now, stakeholders will be watching for further announcements from the Ghana Standards Authority and other relevant authorities regarding the inspection policy.

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