Customs & trade compliance

Licences and registrations

Licensed customs agent (GRA Customs Division)

to be confirmed

Ghana Shippers' Authority registration

to be confirmed

Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders membership

to be confirmed

Company registration

to be confirmed

Taxpayer Identification Number

to be confirmed

Data Protection Commission registration

to be confirmed

Copies of our licences are available on request.

Documents we need from you

Missing or inconsistent documents are the most common cause of delays and storage charges. Send them to us before your cargo arrives and we will check them for you.

Accurate declarations

We prepare customs declarations from the documents and information you give us, and you remain responsible for their accuracy. Under the Customs Act, 2015 (Act 891), false declarations can lead to penalties, seizure of goods and prosecution. We will not:

• declare a value lower than the real transaction value;
• describe or classify goods under the wrong tariff code to reduce duty;
• split a consignment to avoid duties, permits or inspection;
• change documents issued by suppliers, carriers or authorities.

If GRA reassesses a declaration, the additional duty, penalties and interest are payable by the importer. Our duty calculator gives estimates only; the final assessment is made by GRA.

Prohibited and restricted goods

Prohibited goods cannot be imported or exported at all. They include narcotics, counterfeit goods and currency, and any goods banned under Ghanaian law or international conventions. We will not handle them.

Restricted goods need a permit, licence or inspection from a Ghanaian authority before they can be cleared. Common examples include medicines, food and cosmetics, chemicals and pesticides, firearms and ammunition, live animals and plants, and certain used or regulated equipment.

Lists change, so tell us exactly what you are shipping before you book and we will confirm what is needed. GRA publishes the current rules on its website.

Dangerous goods

Dangerous goods include flammable liquids, gases, corrosives, oxidisers, toxic substances, magnetised material and lithium batteries. They must be declared, classified, packed, marked and labelled under the IMDG Code for sea freight and the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations for air freight.

You must tell us about any dangerous goods when you ask for a quote and provide a safety data sheet. Undeclared dangerous goods put crews, handlers and other cargo at risk; carriers can refuse or offload them, and the shipper is liable for the consequences.

Knowing who we work with

Before we act for a new client we confirm who they are. For businesses we ask for company registration documents and a TIN; for individuals, a valid Ghana Card. We may ask who the buyer, seller or end user of goods is, and how payment is being made. We can refuse or stop work where we cannot verify a client or a transaction.

We prefer payment by bank transfer or Mobile Money so that every payment is traceable and receipted.

Sanctions and export controls

We screen clients and shipment parties against United Nations Security Council sanctions lists, and against other lists that apply to the countries and carriers involved in a shipment. We will not handle cargo for sanctioned people, companies or destinations.

Some goods, including certain chemicals, electronics and machinery, can be used for military as well as civilian purposes and need export or import licences. Where this may apply we will ask you to confirm the end use and provide the licence.

Anti-bribery and anti-corruption

We do not offer, pay, request or accept bribes, and we do not make "facilitation" payments to speed up official processes. Duties, levies and official fees are paid through official channels, and we pass the official receipts on to you.

We expect the same from our staff, agents, hauliers and subcontractors. Breaches lead to disciplinary action or the end of the business relationship, and may be reported to the authorities.

Reporting a concern

If you are asked for an unofficial payment by anyone acting for us, or you are worried about a shipment we are handling, email info@tradelinkslog.com. Reports are handled in confidence and we will not penalise anyone for raising a concern in good faith.