The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority has encouraged importers of cars to acquaint themselves with the essential details associated with clearance of vehicles at the ports in order to avoid the confusion they are often riddled with.
Educating the public via the Eye on Port program, Supervisor at the Customs Technical Services Bureau (CTSB), Justice Njornan Magah Yadjayime outlined the customs clearance process using Ghana’s ports.
He emphasized that following the purchase of a vehicle and shipment by the shipper, one needs the services of a clearing agent, who per Ghana’s laws, are the only ones allowed the clear goods at the various ports and frontiers of the country.
According to him for the purposes of accountability and due to the technical nuances associated with customs house business, “these agents are trained by customs to the level of a senior revenue officer”, therefore equipping them with the technical know-how to deal with Customs.
Mr. Yadjayime said the clearing agent will have to submit the details of the bill of lading of the shipment which contains the details of the car into the Integrated Customs Management System.
He said: “Customs would require that the bill of lading captures the make, model or special features. The bill of lading is what is on the manifest the shipping line sends to customs. The bill of lading should tally with the manifest.”