How to export from China to Ghana

Economic Complexity Index (ECI) puts Ghana as the 100th most complex economy. Top exports of
Ghana are Gold ($5.56B), Cocoa Beans ($5.02B), Crude Petroleum ($3.48B), Special Purpose Ships
($608M) and Cocoa Paste ($399M) (2013). Special Purpose Ships ($1.55B), Refined Petroleum
($705M), Cars ($651M), Delivery Trucks ($442M) and Rice ($404M) make to its top list of imports.
Power and electrical supplies, oil and gas, telecommunications, transportation, heavy equipment
including construction equipments and agricultural sector are the lucrative sectors for investment in
trade.
First diplomatic relations between China and Ghana started from 1960. China is the second largest
exporter to Ghana. Ghana imports $2.87B (2013) worth goods from China which comprise of
machines, metals, cotton and fabrics, chemical products including pesticides. China exports $129M
worth processed food including tomatoes, fish, baked goods etc. Non fillet frozen fish earns $11.1M
foreign exchange to China from Ghana, tea and onions constitute $7M.
The Export Process:
The shipping of exports from China involves the involvement of the supplier, shipping agent,
customs agent and the Governments export customs authority. Supplier of the product when
completes manufacturing the desired lot, the supplier contacts the shipping agent to book space on
the shipping vessel. The supplier provides the customs agent all the required documents and the
agent in turn passes those documents to the Exports Customs Authority along with the goods
delivered to the container terminal and the export duties on behalf of supplier. The goods may
undergo audit by the authority to validate the documents with goods on sight. Approved goods get
a clearance certificate and required approval documents. The container is sealed and loaded on the
shipping vessel. The shipping agent receives the bill of lading once the vessel departs upon whose
receipt the supplier can apply for refund of Value Added Tax under National Chinese Tax Bureau.
Basic market essentialities
Here are the most crucial points to be considered while the Chinese exporter decides to operate in
Ghana:

Analyze structure, size and volume of the industry

Competitive players analysis and strengthening the company alongside

Alterations in product line based on requirement of Ghana

Knowledgeable selection of packing, pricing and labeling according to Ghana requirements

Standards and regulations of the products for Ghana

The basic list of documentation that the exporter should be prepared with, in accordance with
the product requirements are:

Bill of Lading

Airway bills

Commercial invoice

Consular invoice

Certificate of origin

NAFTA Certificate of Origin

Inspection Certification

Doc receipt and a warehouse receipt

Destination control statement

Shippers export declaration

Export Licence

Export packing list

Insurance certificate

The documents to be compiled from the Exporter in China are:

1. Quotation
2. Sales contract (requires buyer consent and participation)
3. Pro Forma invoice, Customs invoice
4. Commercial invoice
5. Packing list
6. Inspection certificate (inspection company or exporter applies for this)
7. Insurance certificate
8. Product testing certificates, Phytosanitary certificate, Fumigation certificate and health
certificate (Obtained from accredited labs by the exporter)
9. Financial documents: Standby credit, collection instruction, Bill of Exchange (Draft)
10. Export declaration
Here are the government documents to be obtained and the specific department that issues
them:

1. Certificate of Origin (CO) - Trade and Industry Department and five Chambers of Commerce
2. Certificate of Origin Generalized Systems of Preferences (GSP) Form A (or as Form A) - Trade
and Industry Department and five Chambers of Commerce
3. Import / Export Licence - Trade and Industry Department, Customs & Excise Department
4. International Import Certificate (IIC) - Trade and Industry Department
5. Delivery Verification Certificate (DVC) - Trade and Industry Department
6. Landing Certificate - Census and Statistics Department
The Gateway Services Ltd (GSL) established by the Government of the Republic of Ghana through
the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI) is set up to eliminate opportunities for fraud, fiscal
evasion and price discrimination. The organization achieves its purpose by keeping vigilance on
invoices, valuation of goods, and tariff code declaration and adherence.
The flow of documentation and import process from Ghana is as mentioned below:

The importer should submit electronic Import Declaration Form (IDF), Supplementary
Information Document (SID- application available of customer care desk of GSL) to GSL at
either Accra, Tema or Takoradi, 21 days before the scheduled receipt of goods. Total invoice
value (TIV) should contain the breaks of FOB (Freight on Board), freight and Insurance.
Signed customs declaration along with supporting documents like bill of lading, invoice, IDF,
FCVR, the packing list, IRS certificate along with other permits and documents at any of the
GC net participating banks like Ecobank, Ghana Commercial Bank. Special bank receipts are
given after required payment.

The tariff indicated in the declaration includes:

Import Duty (ID): Calculation is based on the CEPS Tax Schedule

Import VAT (IV) + NHIL; (12.5% + 2.5%) x (ID +TIV)

Import Special Excise (Where Applicable)

Import Excise Duty (Normally charged on luxurious goods)

Processing Fee: 1 % TIV

ECOWAS Levy (EL): 0.5% x TIV

Export Development Levy (EDL): 0.5% x TIV

GSL issues a unique Verification order (VO) which is electronically shared with GSL
representative in China. Buyer needs to submit the final invoice, special bank receipt, bill of

lading, packing list, shipping documents or any other document related to the import is to
be submitted to the nearest GSL office.

The GSL classifies, valuates and assesses the risk of the import goods based on the
documents. In addition, clearance is subject to physical examination (Destination Inspection
Scheme) by Customs upon arrival of goods. Gateway lock will be issued if any discrepancy is
observed which is otherwise cleared with the gateway pass to gain entry into the country.
(Source: Ghana Export Guidelines)

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