Shipping to and from Ghana

Your complete guide to shipping to and from Ghana. Find the right route, get Maersk office locations, discover local solutions, payment options and more.

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Import

Get up-to-date local information about import procedures and restrictions, demurrage and detention, container drop-offs and more.

Tariff for demurrage and detention are in same rates in Ghana. Demurrage is calculated from the day of discharge up to and including the day of empty return to the terminal.

Please note shipping line demurrage and detention charges exclude port storage charges. Storage charges are billed by the port and paid directly to the Port Authority.

Freetime

The standard free-time for all shipments discharged in Ghanaian ports is:

7 days for dry and 5 days for reefer containers - if containers delivery within Ghana
21 days for dry - if containers are in transit to other West African coastal countries
28 days for dry containers - if containers are in transit to inland countries, like Burkina Faso; Mali and Niger. (please note 28 days free time is not applicable for Shipments booked on SPOT, these shipments will enjoy SPOT Terms and Conditions)

Demurrage and detention

The standard demurrage tariffs, effective from 1st June 2011, are as follows :

Dry containers

7 days free from day of discharge
Day 8 to day 16 = USD 20 per twenty foot equivalent unit (teu) per day
Day 17 to 21 days = USD 25 per twenty foot equivalent (teu) per day
Day 22 to stripping/gate-in = USD 50 per twenty foot equivalent (teu) per day

Reefer containers

5 days free from day of discharge
Day 6 to stripping date = USD 100 per twenty foot equivalent per day.

Example

For a 40' reefer container that is discharged on April, 5 and returned empty to the terminal on April,12 demurrage will be USD 600 (3 days at USD 200 per day - total time is 8 days from day after discharge to date of empty return and 5 days free-time is applied).

Local Charges for Ghana

Note: VAT is applicable on all Local charges

Dry & Reef in USD

Import invoice	20ft (USD)	40ft & 45ft (USD)
Import invoice Import Service (Both Dry & Reef)	20ft (USD) 155	40ft & 45ft (USD) 312
Import invoice Port Security Service - Import	20ft (USD) 29	40ft & 45ft (USD) 58
Import invoice Port Additional/Port Dues - Import	20ft (USD) 213	40ft & 45ft (USD) 411

Container Deposit in Ghana Cedis

Container Deposit Required (Refundable upon return of empty container within paid up time)	20ft	40ft
Container Deposit Required (Refundable upon return of empty container within paid up time) Container Deposit required- Within Ghana (DRY)	20ft 350	40ft 700
Container Deposit Required (Refundable upon return of empty container within paid up time) Container Deposit required – Within Ghana (REEFER)	20ft 500	40ft 1000
Container Deposit Required (Refundable upon return of empty container within paid up time) Container Deposit(DRY) – Transit Countries	20ft 4500	40ft 9000

Charge Code	Description	Container Size Type	Charge Basis	Charge	Currency Code
Charge Code AMI	Description Transport Document Amendment Fee - Import	Container Size Type ALL	Charge Basis Per Document	Charge 20	Currency Code USD
Charge Code BLI	Description Transport Document Issuance Service-Import	Container Size Type ALL	Charge Basis Per Document	Charge 2	Currency Code GHS
Charge Code HBL	Description House Transport Document Service	Container Size Type ALL	Charge Basis Per Document	Charge 30	Currency Code USD
Charge Code OBK	Description Booking Services	Container Size Type ALL	Charge Basis Per Document	Charge 65	Currency Code USD
Charge Code PAD	Description Payer Amendment Fee - Destination	Container Size Type ALL	Charge Basis Per Document	Charge 40	Currency Code USD

Customs requirements

All importers are required to submit the below listed documents to Ghana Customs for processing of import documents:

Original bill of lading
Sea waybill
Inspection certificate (FCVR)
Original invoice
Packing list
Import declaration form
Valid IRS certificate

In addition to the above documents, other government regulatory agencies (such as the EPA and the FDB) may require other relevant documents covering:

EPA certificates for chemical imports;
food imports; and
pharmaceutical and drugs imports.

Weight restrictions

The maximum net weight or payload in Ghana is 30 metric tons.

Equipment restrictions

Aluminium containers are not accepted in Ghana. 45' containers can be accepted provided the twistlock locations are at 40' positions and weights conform to the acceptable limits.

Commodity

The following import commodities are either prohibited or banned in Ghana:

Fireworks of all kinds;
Pornograhic materials; and
Military arms and ammunition (can only be imported with permit from the Ministry of Interior).

The law prohibiting the importation of overaged vehicles (over 10 years) has been repealed. Consequently importers can now bring in old cars but will be made to pay higher duty (300%).