Ghana's import trade runs through two ports and one very specific habit: buying in small lots and consolidating. Most Accra wholesalers do not fill containers. They buy 5 to 15 CBM at a time, share a box, and use the cash flow they save to order again sooner. If that is your model, the freight rate matters less than the frequency, and the duty computation matters more than either.
Tema, Takoradi, and the corridor
| Port | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tema | Main container gateway | Most China sailings land here. Best connected for groupage and FCL alike. |
| Takoradi | Western region, project and bulk cargo | Fewer direct sailings from China; usually transhipped. |
| Tema corridor | Transit to Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger | Cargo moves under transit procedures with duty handled at destination. |
The corridor matters more than most importers realise. If you sell into Ouagadougou or Bamako, Tema is your port regardless of where you are registered, and the shipment has to be declared as transit at entry. Declaring it as domestic and then trying to move it north creates a duty bill you cannot recover.
Why the duty bill is bigger than the duty rate
Ghana Revenue Authority assesses through ICUMS on the CIF value: goods, freight and insurance. The headline rate comes from the HS code. Then the levies stack on top, mostly calculated on the duty-inclusive value rather than the CIF value, which is what makes the total climb.
| Charge | Base | Typical treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Import duty | CIF | HS-code dependent, commonly 5 to 20 percent, higher for some categories. |
| VAT | CIF + duty | 15 percent. |
| NHIL | CIF + duty | National Health Insurance Levy, charged on the duty-inclusive value. |
| GETFund | CIF + duty | Education levy, same base. |
| Other levies and fees | Varies | ECOWAS levy, inspection and processing fees, plus terminal and shipping charges. |
The arithmetic that catches people: duty of 20 percent plus VAT of 15 percent is not 35 percent. It is 38 percent, because VAT is charged on the value that already includes duty, and the levies are charged on the same base again. Always ask for the full computation on your HS code, not a percentage.
GRA publishes a duty calculator and the rates are public. Your clearing agent can produce a computation from the HS code in a day, before you order. That is the cheapest hour of advice in the whole transaction.
What has to be right before the vessel sails
- Commercial invoice and packing list in the importer's name, with a product description that matches the HS code you intend to declare.
- Bill of lading consigned correctly. Changing a consignee after sailing is possible and expensive.
- Certificate of origin where a preferential rate depends on it.
- Standards documentation for regulated categories. Ghana Standards Authority requirements apply to a range of food, electrical and construction products, and they are the importer's responsibility, not the shipper's.
- Transit documents if the cargo is going to a landlocked neighbour.
Paying in cedis, settling in RMB
Factories in China quote in RMB or USD. Ghanaian buyers hold cedis. The gap is bridged in one of three ways, and the difference between them is who carries the risk.
- Bank transfer through your own bank. Documented, traceable, and slower. The paperwork produced is also the paperwork your clearing agent will want.
- A licensed provider settling directly into RMB. Several now cover the cedi corridor, with a fixed rate shown at the time of payment and a receipt you can keep.
- An informal channel with an RMB balance in China. Cheapest on the quote, and the one that ends with a frozen account. When the recipient account is flagged, the money is gone and the merchant holding it is the one who cannot explain the transaction.
Whatever route you use, the RMB should land in the supplier's corporate account, matching the name on the business licence. The checks that matter before payment are here.
Worked example: 12 CBM to Tema
Household plasticware, 12 CBM, goods bought for 4,100 USD.
| Line | USD |
|---|---|
| Goods | 4,100 |
| Domestic move, repacking, carton marking | 150 |
| Inspection and photos | 90 |
| Sea freight, LCL, 12 CBM | 940 |
| Export documents | 60 |
| Sourcing fee at 5 percent | 205 |
| Duty, VAT and levies | computed on CIF at your HS code |
| Clearing and delivery in Accra | usually 350 to 700 at this size |
Note how much of the total is fixed regardless of the goods: freight, documents, inspection and clearing do not shrink because the order is small. That is the arithmetic behind the fee bands on our pricing page, and behind the advice to start with one product and learn the route before widening the range.
Timing
| Stage | Typical duration |
|---|---|
| Quote and specification | 3 to 7 days |
| Deposit and production | 7 to 20 days |
| Inspection and consolidation | 2 to 4 days |
| Sea freight to Tema | 30 to 38 days |
| Clearance and delivery | 4 to 10 days |
Questions buyers ask
Is groupage or a full container better into Tema?
Groupage wins below roughly 15 CBM and loses above it. A 20ft container holds about 28 CBM; once you are past half of that, the per-cubic-metre rate on LCL stops being competitive, and you also avoid sharing a container with someone else's documentation problem.
Do you clear goods in Ghana?
No. We handle the China side and send documents directly to your clearing agent in Tema. If you do not have one, we can tell you what to look for, but the appointment and the payment stay with you, which is how it should be.
What about samples and small parcels?
Under about 1 CBM, air freight or courier is usually cheaper once you count terminal charges on a tiny sea shipment. We quote both when the order is borderline so you can compare the real numbers rather than the freight rate alone.