Ghana to ban importation of right-hand-drive and over-aged vehicles from October

Ghana will from October 1 ban the importation of originally manufactured right-hand-drive and overaged vehicles.

The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) will commence the enforcement of the Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) programme for vehicle imports on the date.

The programme is designed to ensure that all used vehicles imported into Ghana comply with GS 4510, the standard governing the importation of used vehicles before shipment from the exporting country.

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, and over-aged vehicles (above 10 years).

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

Deputy Director-General in charge of General Services at the GSA, Samuel Abdulai Jabanyite, said the initiative now has the backing of stakeholders who previously opposed its implementation.

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

There have been discussions about banning of some right-hand-drive vehicles including brands such as Toyota Voxy vehicles which have been involved in a number of accidents in recent times.

The Ghana Road Safety Authority months ago publicly hinted a ban on Voxy vehicles.

The current regime for importation of vehicles aged more than 10 years is for importers to pay penalty. But per the upcoming regime, such vehicles will no longer be allowed into the country.