🇬🇭 Import Used Cars from China to Ghana — Prices, Duty and Shipping

Why Ghana is our primary market

Ghana is where we do most of our business, for four reasons that all point the same way.

It is English-speaking, so there is no translation friction on documents or in negotiation. It drives on the right, so our left-hand-drive Chinese stock fits without the $3,000-5,000 conversion cost that ruins a car’s resale value. Its duty regime — roughly 30-35% of CIF — is the friendlier of the two markets we serve. And Tema is a well-run port with predictable sailing schedules from Nansha.

Put together, that means a 2023 Chinese SUV lands in Tema at a price that competes directly with a 2014 European SUV, and wins on every measure except badge.

What it costs to land a car in Ghana

Each row is priced from a real unit in current stock, not a rounded example.

Duty figures are estimates at roughly 30-35% of CIF. Ghana Revenue Authority assesses against its own valuation, not your invoice alone, and applies import duty, VAT, NHIL and GETFund levies plus processing fees. Confirm the current number with your clearing agent before you commit to a price for your customer.

The Atto 3 figure is calculated before EV duty relief. Ghana has been reducing duty on electric vehicles as policy, so the real number may be lower — treat it as a live question for your agent.

Ports and shipping

Tema is our default quoting port, serving Accra and the south. Takoradi is available for Western Region logistics. Sailing time is 28-35 days from Guangzhou Nansha. A 40HQ container to Tema currently quotes at $5,000-5,500 and holds three cars, so we budget $2,000 per unit — the high end of the range divided by three, plus a 10% allowance for rate movement. Short-loading a container raises the per-unit figure.

Rules worth knowing before you order

Left-hand drive only — Ghana drives on the right, so RHD stock is simply the wrong product.

Vehicle age affects cost significantly. Older units attract a penalty on top of normal duty, which is a large part of why 2-4 year old Chinese stock lands competitively while a cheaper, older car often does not. Run the landed arithmetic before assuming the lower FOB price wins.

Destination inspection applies. On every unit we issue the commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, export certificate and the de-registration paperwork from China — the set your agent needs to open the file.

Who buys from us in Ghana

Used-car dealers in Accra and Kumasi stocking a yard. Small fleet operators buying three to ten units. Ride-hailing operators who want cars newer than the local used market offers. If you are buying a single car for yourself, we will still quote you, but the economics work better at two or more.

Common questions

Q: How much does it cost to import a car from China to Ghana? A: Between roughly $14,373 and $17,307 landed depending on model, for 2-4 year old SUVs. That is FOB Nansha price plus $2,000 freight to Tema plus duty at roughly 30-35% of CIF. The table above breaks it down per model.

Q: How long does shipping take? A: 28-35 days from Nansha to Tema, plus clearance time at destination. Add one to four weeks before that for sourcing if you want a specific year and trim.

Q: Are the cars left-hand drive? A: Yes, every one, as built in China. Ghana drives on the right, so LHD is correct and no conversion is needed.

Q: Which model should I start with? A: If your buyers have families, the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro — it is the only genuine 7-seat option and has the highest ground clearance. If you are price-led, the Geely Coolray or Haval H6. If you want rough-road clearance without the Tiggo 8 Pro’s size, the Chery Tiggo 7 PLUS.

Q: Can I inspect the car before paying? A: Yes. We arrange third-party inspection before payment on any unit, and you get the report itself rather than a summary of it.