Ghana

Ghana and South Africa have a growing relationship. Though sending shipments to Ghana from South Africa is generally straightforward, here are some things to bear in mind.

Country Information

Sending items to Ghana – general advice

Please contact DHL prior to sending all dutiable shipments to Ghana where the value of duties is above USD$10 000 and the sender wishes to pay the duties (DTP) to ensure pre-alerts are made.

All shipments, regardless of value, are subject to a formal declaration and customs clearance. This includes a destination inspection by Customs Authority.

Shipments valued over USD$2000 may incur additional delays of 24 hours due to customs clearance processing.

 

Communications equipment: The receiver must obtain an authorisation letter from the Ghana National Communications Authority before clearance can be completed.

Drugs (prescription and non-prescription): Receiver must obtain approval from the Ghana Food and Drug Board.

Foodstuffs, including non-alcoholic beverages: Must obtain approval from the Ghana Food and Drug Board.

Photographs from the US: Must be sent as goods and not documents.

Textile samples and articles: Wax prints are allowed to enter at Takoradi Harbour only and will require special permits from the Ministry of Trade to enter any other port. Any other textiles can enter through any port.

Video cassette tapes: Clearly state the title of the film on the cassettes.

X-ray machines: Please contact the destination prior to shipment for any licenses or permit requirements.

High risk items

The Ghana Ministry of Trade considers the following items to be “high risk” and they must be inspected and certified by the Ghana Standards Board. Items must be accompanied by a Certificate of Analysis or Conformance issued by a laboratory, preferably by the exporting country. Visual inspection to take place prior to Customs clearance. Expect delays of 48 hours.

  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Chemicals, non-hazardous – including allied products
  • Electronic equipment including electronic games, computer components and parts, computer software, machine parts, and electronic parts
  • Industrial equipment, including building materials
  • Measuring apparatus, including LPG cylinders and accessories
  • Perishables
  • Telecommunications equipment including phones, modems, and radar transmitters and receivers
  • Televisions and television equipment including electrical appliances, products and cables
  • Toys
  • Used items

 

Commodities considered as Documents

Ghana Customs defines a document as general correspondence (business or private) as well as the items listed below. Please pay attention to the weight or quantity limits.

  • Advertising brochures and pamphlets
  • Airline tickets, issued or validated
  • Annual reports
  • Artwork including drawings/proofs/layouts 3
  • Blank forms 1
  • Blueprints
  • Booklets, brochures (non-advertising)
  • Books: hardback or paperback for non-commercial use 1
  • Business cards
  • Cash letters (NI)
  • Catalogues 3
  • Charts and graphs
  • Cheques, cancelled (NI)
  • Cheques, cashier (NI)
  • Computer printouts
  • Credit card blanks (NI) 3
  • Credit cards (NI) 3
  • Deeds
  • Diplomatic mail
  • Documents, general business
  • Invoices, not blank
  • Labels 3
  • Magazines, periodicals, journals 1
  • Manuals, technical 2
  • Manuscripts
  • Maps
  • Microfiche & microfilm 3
  • Money orders (NI)
  • Music – printed or manuscript
  • Negatives, including x-rays, films 3
  • Newspapers
  • Pamphlets
  • Passports
  • Personal mail
  • Photographs
  • Photographs as part of business reports
  • Plans and drawings for architectural/industrial /engineering purposes
  • Price lists
  • Price tickets for garments
  • Publications not for public resale
  • Publications for public resale
  • Shipping manifest – computer generated
  • Shipping schedules
  • Transparencies
  • Visa applications

 

  1. Max weight: 10 kg (22 lb)
  2. Consignee must obtain authorisation letter from the Ghana National Communications Authority before clearance can be completed
  3. Max quantity: 1

 

NI = A negotiable instrument is a document guaranteeing the payment of a specific amount of money, either on demand or at a set time, with the payer named on the document

 

Prohibited items

The following items are specifically not allowed to be sent with DHL to Ghana. This is in addition to DHL’s Globally standard list of prohibited items which can be found here.

  • Airline tickets, blank stock (NI)
  • Antiques
  • Asbestos
  • Firearms, parts of
  • Furs
  • Gambling devices
  • Jewellery
  • Precious metals and stones

 

Size and Weight notes

The maximum weight per shipment is 1,000 kg (2,200.0 lb). The maximum weight per piece is 70.0 kg (154.0 lb). The maximum dimensions of each shipment are length: 120.0 cm (47 in); height: 160.0 cm (62.0 in); width: 100.0 cm (39.0 in). Pallets are accepted. If shipments exceeding these limits cannot be broken down, contact DHL. Particularly heavy or oversized shipments may incur delays in transit.

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