Ghana Import Procedures: Rice

Ghana is a multi-cultural country with a widely diverse population, rich wildlife and abundant national resources. Ghana imports mainly capital, industrial supplies, foodstuffs and consumer goods from its import partners China, Belgium, USA, UK and France. Majority of Ghana’s imports are for local consumption, and include rice, cars, trucks (for delivery and large construction), and refined petroleum.

Below are the step-by-step import procedures for rice.

RICE

Purchase

• Preconditions – Get a Registration Certificate from the Registrar General’s Department.
• Conclude the sales contract – The importer sources the rice and concludes the sales contract with the exporter.

Shipping

• IDF (Import Declaration Form) Submission – The importer or the importer’s agent fills and submits an IDF application electronically.
• FDA (Food and Drugs Authority) Product Registration – The importer/agent submits an application to register as an importer and registers the product to be imported.
• GSA (Ghana Standards Authority) – The importer/ agent submits an application to GSA to register as an importer.
• PPRSD (Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate) – The importer/agent submits an application to PPRSD to register as an importer.
• FDA Import Permit – The importer/agent submits an application via the e-MDA Portal to obtain the FDA rice import permit.
• PPRSD Permit Application – The importer/agent submits an application to obtain a PPRSD rice import permit.
• GSA Declaration Submission – The importer/agent submits the GSA declaration on the e-MDA portal.
• Obtain a CCVR (Customs Classification and Valuation Report) – The importer/agent submits an electronic application for a CCVR, and attaches supporting documents via PAARS (Pre-Arrival Assessment Reporting System).
• Manifest Submission – The shipping line submits the manifest to the GRA (Ghana Revenue Authority) customs division.
• Submit the Customs Declaration (BOE – Bill of Entry) – The importer/agent submits the Customs Declaration (Bill of Entry) via the GCMS (GhanaCustoms Management System).
• Duty Payment – The importer/agent makes the payment to the authorized dealer bank.
• Customs Document Verification and Compliance – A GRA Customs Compliance Officer verifies the documents submitted.
• Cargo release by the shipping line – Once all the charges have been paid, the shipping line releases the cargo.
• Delivery of the container to the terminal for examination – Documents are submitted at the Freight Station or the Terminal in preparation for the container to be examined.
• Goods Inspection/ Examination – This examination is conducted by GSA, PPRSD, and FDA, as well as a Customs Examination Officer and a Customs Chemist Analyst.
• Vehicle Permit / Pass Toll – The importer/agent pays a fee and obtains a vehicle toll pass from GPHA (Ghana Ports and Harbors Authority).
• Waybill Collection – The importer/agent pays all fees and gets a waybill at GPHA.
• Terminal Audit – The terminal clerk crosschecks and confirms that the correct fees have been paid.
• Release at Preventive Gate – The GRA Customs Preventive Officers check the documents carefully, and then release the goods.
• Final Security Check – A security official does a final scrutiny of the documentation to ensure that the right cargo exits the port.
• Goods Payment – The importer can now pay the exporter using either Letter of Credit, Open Account, Advance Payment or Direct Payment.

The entire process of importing rice into Ghana takes an average of 82.7 days!