HIGHLIGHTS ON

EXPORT AND IMPORT

SYSTEM IN GHANA
.
 Highlight on Export and Import management in Ghana

• Imports and exports are the components of international trade. International

trade is an exchange of goods and services across national borders.
• Export
• It is an outbound trade.
• Export is a good produced in one country that is sold into another country, or
a service provided in one country for a national or resident of another country.
• Import
• It is an inbound trade.
• Import is also a good bought or a service provided from one country to
another country.
 Export Classification in Ghana
• Ghana export is classified into Traditional and Non-Traditional Export
• Traditional exports
• It is defined by the Import‐Export Act of 1995 (Act 503) as cocoa
beans, logs and lumber, unprocessed gold and other minerals and
electricity.
• Non‐traditional exports
• They are products other than cocoa beans, logs and lumber,
unprocessed gold and other minerals and electricity. For example,
mango, vegetables, orange, cosmetic products, Handicrafts.
 Stakeholders in the Export and Import Sector
in Ghana
• Ministry of Trade and Industry
• Ministry of Finance
• Ministry of Transport
• Ministry of Food and Agriculture
• Ministry of Tourism, Art and Culture
• Ghana Export Promotion Authority
• Ghana Shippers Authority
• Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• Association of Ghana Industries
• Ghana Port and Harbor Authority
• Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters
 CONT.
• Bank of Ghana
• EximBank Ghana
• Ghana Standards Authority
• Exporters
• Ghana Union of Traders Association
• Ghana Revenue Authority – Customs Division
• Vegetable Exporters and Producers Association of Ghana
 Roles of Stakeholders
• In Ghana, the stakeholders in the export and import sector are responsible for the
following:
• Market access promotion
• Identification of foreign market
• Product development
• Policy and strategy formulation
• Customs documentation / Documentation for international market.
• Provision of import and export information/data.
• Trade Finance
• Certification
• Inspection
• Import Clearance,
• Revenue collection
• Among others.
Legal Issues Associated with Export and Import in
Ghana
• The legal instruments that guide import and exports in Ghana are;
• Ghana’s Export and Import Act.
• Ghana Export Promotion Authority Act.
• Customs Regulations.
• World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement.
• Public Health Act (for FDA).
• Ghana Standard Authority Act.
• Bank of Ghana Act.
• Preferential Trade Agreements (AfCFTA, AGOA, ETLS and EPA) protocols.
• Ghana Trade Policy Documentation
• Registrar General Department
 CONT.
• For instant, an importer or exporter needs to
• Register with the Registrar General’s Department
• Acquire necessary certification
• Ensure product meets required quality standards
• Rules of Origin Certification (if applicable)
 Documentations needed for Export
The underlisted documents are required for exporting from Ghana:
• Bank of Ghana Exchange Control Form A2 and Single Administration Document
(traditional exports)
• Ghana Customs form (non-traditional exports)
• Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) Certificate
• Company registration certificate from Registrar General’s Department
• Certificate of Origin
• ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme Certificate (if applicable)
• African Continental Free Trade Area Certificate (if applicable)
• African Growth Opportunity Act Certificate (if Applicable)
• Product and/or Process standards Certificate.
 Export Procedure.
Any company or enterprise which intends to deal in exportation of exportable goods
or items in Ghana must:
• Get a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) from the Ghana Revenue Authority or a
Ghana Card PIN.
• Be registered with the Registrar-General’s Department.
• Be registered with the Ghana Export Promotion Authorities and obtain a unique
export number.
• Obtain a Bank of Ghana Exchange Control Form A2 from your bankers.
• Complete the Customs Declaration Form electronically and submit to Customs via
the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS).
• Attach all relevant documents; Certificates, Permits etc.
• When the declaration is validated by Customs, present goods to Customs at the
Export seat to the Exit Port or Station for Customs Inspection or Examination.
• If Customs is satisfied with the examination, the goods are then released for export.
Major Export Products in Ghana (HS CODE 10)
 Mode of Transportation

• The mode of transportation of import and export in Ghana are by sea,

air and land
• Import and Export through the habours – Takoradi and Tema, Kotoka
International Airport, Land boarders at Aflao, Elubo e.t.c.
 Import Procedure
The procedures to be followed to successfully clear imported goods are described as follows:
• Submit declaration documents in the ICUMS front end by the clearing agent.
• The ICUMS will process the declaration in the following stages:
• Classification
• Valuation
• Approval
• Pay duties and taxes at the participating banks if the declaration is successfully processed
through the ICUMS using the tax bill generated. This is done by the Clearing Agent and the duty
to be paid is dependent on the cost of the goods, type of goods and rates specified for the goods.
• Verify declaration and then select the examination officer through ICUMS.
• Tax bill received from the bank is presented to the examination officer for scanning.
• Goods positioned for physical examination which were already scanned are examined upon
discharge.
• Convey released goods to the exit gate for a security check accompanied by the waybill.
Integrated Customs Management Systems (ICUMS)

Integrated Customs Management Systems (ICUMS) is an end –to-end

system aimed at coordinating all activities in respect to cross border
trade on one platform to reduce time and cost in clearing and exporting
goods from Ghana which now allows for creation of Unique
Consignment Reference (UCR) on the same platform without the need
to be switching between different systems.
 Components of the ICUMS
Five (5) main components:
• Customs Business
• Integrated Risk Management
• Single Window
• Information Technology Management
• Customs Administration
 Main Stakeholders to the ICUMS
• Ghana Link
• GRA – Customs UNIPASS International Agency (CUPIA)
• Ministry of Trade and Industry
• Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• Bank of Ghana
• Freight Forwarders
Benefits
• Reduce time
• Reduce cost
• Allow information sharing
• One-stop-shop for Government Agencies
• Ensures Government revenue
• Provides easy Customs clearance
 Documentation needed for Import

• Original Airway bill or Bill of Lading

• Attested invoice
• Packing list
• Import Declaration Form (IDF) from Ministry of Trade
• Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) from GRA or Ghana Card PIN
• Required permit(s) from any of the regulatory agencies, dependent on
the type of goods. i.e. Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Ghana
Standards Authority (GSA), etc.
 Preferential Trade Agreements
• The government of Ghana through the Ministry of Trade and Industry
have signed various trade agreement that eliminate barriers to the
free movement of goods, services, and investment between countries
for Exporters, Importers, potential Exporters and potential Importers
to take advantage of it. Below are the Preferential Trade Agreements;
• African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
• African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA)
• ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS)
• Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)
• Interim Trade Partnership Agreement with UK
 Importance of Export to the Country

• Export increases Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

• It strengthens the country’s local currency
• It increases the production of Made - In – Ghana products.
• It increases the employment rate in the country
• Export leads to the reduction of poverty in the country
• Household income generation
 Challenges in the Export sector
• Difficult in getting global buyers easily.
• Access to Finance
• Low quality standards of products
• Low supply base
• High cost of production
• Technical Barriers to Trade in importing countries
• Global competition
• Choosing the right product to export to a particular market is one of
the greater challenges in global trade. Every market has different
needs and requirements.
 CONT.
• When exporting and the target country increases import tariffs, it
might affect the viability of your customers to buy your products.
• Difficult in meeting foreign quality standards and paying attention to
branding, labelling, and packaging as agreed between you and the
buyer
• Fluctuation of currency exchange rate.
• The pricing is based on the price offered by your competitors. Many
exporters are not active in researching the market to create the right
pricing strategy that impacts their competitiveness in global markets.
• The complex set of compliances and documentation are some of the
biggest challenges for exporters today.
 Importance of Import in the Country
• It introduces a new product to the country,
• It reduces the cost of production in the country,
• Source of revenue to the country (import duties)
• Effective and efficient production (import of machinery for
production)
• Complement locally produced goods and services
• Create jobs and household income
 Challenges in Import in Ghana

• Price negotiation is sometimes difficult due to cultural differences and

language barrier.
• Preferred quality specs are mostly not gain, since the importer may not
be at the production centre to oversee the production of the goods.
• Transporting product from the exporting country is sometimes
challenging and expensive.
• High import duties.
• Fluctuation of import duties
• Unstable exchange rate
 Conclusion
• Export and import is one of the key sectors of the Ghanaian economy and over
the years Government have implemented policies to promote the sector. For
instance, benchmark value reduction, establishment of the ICUMS, development
of NEDS, Ghana Export and Import Bank (GEXIMBANK) among others.
• Managing the sector successfully, much expertise is required.
• The sector’s contribution to GDP cannot be over emphasized.
• However, the sector has some challenges as outlined above that needs to be
addressed.
• Currently, the government is implementing some programs to address these
challenges. Examples include:
National Export Development Strategy, Tema- Akosombo railway, National AfCFTA
Implementation Action Plan, Support to SMEs, Supply of Mango, Pineapple and
Cashew seedlings to farmers by GEPA and EximBank.
THANK YOU
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