Tema Port Clearance: A Step-by-Step Walkthrough

Most articles about Tema Port clearance describe it like a mystery. It isn't. There are exactly six steps, and any of them can stall your vehicle if a document is wrong or a payment is late. Here's what actually happens, in order, with the document list and approximate cost at each step.

Before the ship arrives

Two things must be in place before your vehicle physically arrives at Tema:

1. Import Declaration Form (IDF) lodged in ICUMS.

ICUMS (Integrated Customs Management System) replaced the older GCNet platform in 2020. Your clearing agent files the IDF using:

• Title or auction bill of sale
• Bill of Lading from the shipping line
• Vehicle invoice
• Importer's TIN
• Importer's Ghana Card

The IDF generates a UCR (Unique Consignment Reference). Without a UCR, no further step is possible.

2. Marine insurance certificate filed with the IDF.

Cost: GHS 200–400 for the IDF processing, marine insurance is 1.5–2% of CIF.

Step 1: Vessel arrival and discharge (1–2 days)

The vessel arrives at Tema's container terminal (MPS Terminal 3) or RORO terminal (depending on shipping mode). Discharge to the yard takes 12–36 hours.

You will not see your vehicle yet. It moves to a storage yard pending clearance.

Watch out for: demurrage. After 7 free days, the terminal charges storage at $5–15/day. After 30 days, your car is at risk of being auctioned by GPHA as abandoned cargo. Move fast.

Step 2: Customs valuation (1–2 days)

A Customs officer looks up your vehicle in the GRA Valuation Database and assigns a CIF value. This is the most controversial step — Customs is not bound by your invoice and can value the vehicle higher.

If you disagree with the valuation, you can lodge an objection with the Valuation Review Committee. This adds 5–10 days and rarely succeeds unless you have a recent independent appraisal.

Cost: included in agent fee.

Step 3: Duty assessment and payment (1 day)

Once valued, ICUMS auto-calculates:

• Import duty (5%, 10%, or 20% depending on engine size)
• VAT (15%)
• NHIL (2.5%)
• GETFund (2.5%)
• ECOWAS levy (0.5%)
• Processing and network fees (~1.4%)

Total is payable in GHS at any partner bank (GCB, Stanbic, Absa, Fidelity) within 48 hours of assessment, otherwise your assessment expires and you re-do the valuation.

For a $20,000 CIF SUV, expect GHS 90,000–110,000 in total duties.

Step 4: Physical inspection (1–2 days)

A Customs officer physically inspects the vehicle to verify:

• VIN matches the title
• Engine size matches the duty calculation
• No hidden compartments or undeclared cargo
• Roadworthy enough to drive off the yard (RORO only)

If anything is off — wrong VIN, mismatched engine size, undeclared spare parts in the trunk — you go back to Step 2.

Cost: $80–150 inspection fee.

Step 5: Terminal release (1 day)

After inspection clears, you pay:

• Terminal handling charges (THC) — $250–400 for RORO, more for container
• Storage fees (if past free days)
• Port security fee — GHS 100–200

The terminal issues a release order. The clearing agent presents the release order at the gate; the vehicle is driven off the yard.

Step 6: DVLA registration (2–4 days)

The vehicle now legally belongs to you, but it cannot be driven on Ghana roads until DVLA registers it. Documents required:

• Customs Single Administrative Document (SAD)
• Importer's Ghana Card
• Roadworthy certificate (issued at DVLA inspection)
• Insurance certificate (third-party minimum)

Cost: GHS 3,200–4,800 depending on plate type.

Total clearance timeline

A well-prepared import clears in 5–8 working days from vessel discharge to driving off the yard. A poorly prepared one takes 3–6 weeks and racks up demurrage charges.

The five most common delays

1. Title issues. US salvage titles, branded titles, or titles in a name other than the importer cause valuation to stall.
2. TIN/Ghana Card mismatch. The importer's TIN must be active and match the Ghana Card on file with GRA.
3. Engine size dispute. If your spec says 1.8L and the actual engine is 2.0L, Customs reassesses.
4. Missing original Bill of Lading. Some shipping lines hold the original until freight is paid. Confirm with the shipping line before vessel arrival.
5. Failed roadworthy inspection. If the vehicle has obvious safety issues (broken lights, bald tires), DVLA fails it. You repair on-site and re-test.

The "no agent" myth

Some importers try to clear without an agent, thinking they'll save 1.5–2% of CIF. They typically lose:

• 1–2 weeks of demurrage ($35–210)
• Unofficial facilitation fees ($300–800)
• Their own time (most importers underestimate this)

Net cost of going without an agent is usually 2–4x what the agent would have charged.

How we handle it

Imports.com.gh quotes include Tema clearance. Ask us to confirm exactly what your quote covers, including who files the IDF before the vessel arrives and who pays the duties.

If you have a vehicle stuck at Tema, contact us — we also handle clearance-only for vehicles you sourced yourself.