This is a best prospect industry sector for this country. Includes a market overview and trade data.
The automotive sector in Ghana is largely made up of retailers of imported used vehicles and a few distributers who deal in the retailing of new vehicles.
Ghana imports about 100,000 vehicles per year. About 90 percent are used vehicles, with an estimated value of US$1.14 billion annually. The United States, Japan and Germany are leading suppliers. U.S. suppliers should contact U.S. Commercial Service Ghana Commercial Specialist PaaEkow Quansah at office.accra@trade.gov to understand the latest dynamics on a yet-to-be-implemented ban on older vehicles and changing safety inspection requirements for used vehicles.
Ghana is seeking to change this dynamic, however, by attracting investment from leading Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) The 2019 Ghana Automotive Development Policy is aimed at producing affordable new vehicles in the Ghanaian market and reducing the heavy reliance on used vehicles. Some OEMs have already signed assembly agreements, including Volkswagen, Nissan, Toyota, and Suzuki. The local company Kantanka Automobile Company Limited assembles the Kantanka line of vehicles from Completely Knocked Down (CKD) kits from China. It mainly produces sedans and SUVs as well as some military vehicles. The Government of Ghana has procured some of these local vehicles for its own use.
Opportunities
- Auto importers periodically contact Commercial Service Ghana to seek suppliers of specific autos as well as OEM and aftermarket parts to service used autos in Ghana.
- OEM production in Ghana provides access to various tax incentives in Ghana itself. See the Customs Amendment Act, 2020, Act 1014.
- Ghana and wider Africa are seeking to create a regional autos production chain, including their own parts production, which may create machinery and tool and die export opportunities for U.S. companies. Producers in Ghana may receive reduced or duty-free access to a wide range of other Africa countries via the new African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
Contact: U.S. Commercial Service Ghana Commercial Specialist PaaEkow Quansah at office.accra@trade.gov or +233 (0) 30 274 1329 for more information.
Resources:
Government of Ghana Information Brief for Automotive Assemblers 2019
Ghana Investment Promotion Center
Resources
Government of Ghana Information Brief for Automotive Assemblers 2019