How transit through Ghana works
Goods for a landlocked country are not cleared for use in Ghana. They move under a transit declaration, backed by a transit bond, so no Ghana import duty is paid. Customs seals the cargo and monitors the trip to the exit border, where the transit is discharged and the goods are handed to Burkinabè customs.
The transit declaration works much like the T1 document used in other customs systems: it records the goods, the seals, the truck, the route and the time allowed to reach the border. Until the transit is closed at Paga, the declarant is responsible for the goods. That is why the paperwork, the carrier and the route all need to be right from the start.
Importers in Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso choose Tema for its wide choice of shipping lines, good road links north and the option of an English and French speaking team on the Ghana side. Typical transit cargo includes building materials, vehicles, machinery, food products, fertiliser, textiles and general merchandise in full containers. Loose or breakbulk cargo can also move in transit, with the right trucks and lashing.
Transit bonds and guarantees
Because no duty is paid in Ghana, customs needs security in case the goods do not leave the country. That security is a transit bond or guarantee, usually provided through a bank or an approved insurer and lodged with GRA Customs. Its value is linked to the duty and taxes that would be due if the goods were sold in Ghana.
Once the truck exits at Paga and the transit is discharged, the bond is released for the next shipment. If a truck is diverted, seals are broken or the time limit is exceeded, customs can claim against the bond. We arrange the bond as part of the job, so you do not need your own guarantee in Ghana.
The steps
- Send the bill of lading, invoice and packing list, with the consignee in Burkina Faso.
- We lodge the transit declaration in ICUMS and arrange the bond.
- The container is released from the terminal, sealed and loaded on a truck.
- The truck travels the corridor north through Kumasi and Tamale to Paga with customs monitoring.
- At the border the transit is closed in Ghana and the cargo enters Burkina Faso at Dakola for clearance there.
- We return the empty container to the shipping line in time to avoid detention charges.
Goods for Bobo-Dioulasso or western Burkina Faso can be routed differently; we confirm the corridor for each shipment. Trucking is arranged through our haulage and trucking service.
Documents for Burkina Faso transit
- Bill of lading naming the consignee in Burkina Faso, with Tema as port of discharge
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- Any import permits or certificates required in Burkina Faso for your goods
- Consignee details for the Burkinabè customs broker who will clear on arrival
Accurate descriptions and HS codes matter at both ends, because the same goods are declared in Ghana for transit and then in Burkina Faso for import. See HS codes in Ghana and the documents checklist.
What drives the cost of transit
We never quote a transit shipment without the details, because the cost depends on several things: the container size and weight, the destination city in Burkina Faso, current truck availability on the northern corridor, the bond value linked to your goods, Tema terminal and shipping line charges, and the time the empty container is out before return. Heavy cargo may need a specific type of truck, and some goods need escort.
The biggest avoidable costs are port storage and container detention, both of which grow with delay. Read the demurrage and storage guide, and see container shipping cost to Ghana for the ocean side. You can follow the shipment on our tracking page.
What to watch and common delays
Transit cargo still accrues port storage and shipping line charges at Tema, so documents must be ready on arrival. Some commodities can face transit restrictions from time to time; we check your cargo against current rules before you ship.
- Late or wrong documents. A consignee name that differs between the bill of lading and invoice delays the declaration.
- Truck shortages. At busy times, trucks for the northern corridor are in demand. Booking early helps.
- Border queues. Paga can be congested. Time at the border is part of the journey, not an exception.
- Security and road conditions. Conditions in parts of the Sahel can change. We review the route before each departure.
Start your Burkina Faso transit
Our transit desk works in English and French, and keeps you and your broker in Burkina Faso updated by WhatsApp from the port to the border. Send the bill of lading or booking details through the quote form or contact us. For the clearing side at the port, see our clearing agent in Tema service, and for freight into Tema, sea freight to Ghana.
The earlier we see the documents, the better. Ideally send them before the vessel arrives, so the transit declaration is ready, the bond is in place and a truck is booked by the time the container is discharged.
Questions
Do I pay Ghana duty on goods going to Burkina Faso?
No. Transit goods move under a transit declaration and bond. Duty is paid in Burkina Faso.
How long does the road trip from Tema to Ouagadougou take?
Plan for several days on the road, plus time at the Paga and Dakola border posts. Exact times depend on the truck, convoy timing and border queues.
Can you speak with my team in French?
Yes. Our transit desk works in English and French.
What is a transit bond?
A guarantee lodged with Ghana customs that covers the duty and taxes that would be due if the goods stayed in Ghana. It is released once the transit is closed at the exit border.
Which border do trucks to Burkina Faso use?
Most transit trucks from Tema exit Ghana at Paga and enter Burkina Faso at Dakola, on the road to Ouagadougou. We confirm the route for each shipment.
Do you return the empty container to Tema?
Yes. Container return is part of the job, and we track the shipping line free days so detention charges do not build up.
Talk to our operations desk.
Send your documents or cargo details and we will reply with a full quote: freight, clearance and delivery on one page.