Ghana clears imports through ICUMS, the Integrated Customs Management System known as UNIPASS. It is a single online window where your clearing agent creates a UCR (Unique Consignment Reference), lodges the declaration, and Customs handles classification, valuation and approval. Duty follows the ECOWAS tariff with VAT and levies on top. Rolats prepares the UK-side paperwork.
ICUMS, Ghana's single window
Since replacing the old GCNet system, ICUMS (accessed via unipassghana.com) is the one platform for declarations, classification, valuation and payment. Your clearing agent submits the entry, it passes through Classification, Valuation and Approval, then duties and taxes are paid at a participating bank against the generated tax bill. The UCR is the unique reference that tracks your consignment end to end, Ghana's equivalent of a cargo tracking number. If a separate ECTN is requested for your routing, we arrange it.
What you will pay: duty, VAT & levies
Charges stack on the CIF value. The GRA reformed VAT from 1 January 2026, including removing the 1 percent COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy, so confirm current rates before shipping.
- Import duty: generally 5 to 20 percent under the ECOWAS Common External Tariff, by category, with vehicles rated by engine size
- VAT and levies: standard VAT plus GETFund and NHIL levies
- Get the HS classification right up front, as it sets the whole bill.
Documents checklist
A typical Ghana clearance file includes the following, with permits added where the goods are regulated.
- Declaration via ICUMS
- UCR
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of lading or air waybill
- Packing list
- IDF and any LPCO (permits or licences) where goods are regulated
Shipping to Ghana with Rolats
From our Dagenham depot we ship sea to Tema and Takoradi and air to Accra (Kotoka), prepare your UK documents, and coordinate ICUMS clearance so your barrels, boxes, car or container reach the recipient's door. Pricing is all-in GBP: air at £5.90 per kg plus £20 handling, sea from £70 per bag, with car and container shipping on application.