Clearing at Tema is one of those things that looks straightforward on paper and turns into a maze in practice. The port is busy, the paperwork is precise, and every day your vehicle sits there waiting, demurrage adds up. A good clearing agent earns their fee many times over.
The documents you'll hand over
- Original Bill of Lading from the shipping line
- Vehicle title (or salvage cert)
- Commercial invoice
- Import Declaration Form
- Ghana Card and TIN
- Authorization letter for your clearing agent
What the agent actually does
- Lodges declaration in ICUMS (Ghana's customs system)
- Pays duty and levies on your behalf
- Books and attends the physical examination at the port
- Releases the vehicle from the port and arranges DVLA roadworthy & registration
Typical timeline
5–10 working days from vessel discharge to release, assuming no document issues. Add 2–4 working days for DVLA roadworthy and plates.
What goes wrong
Three things, almost always: title mismatch, GRA valuation disputes, or paying duty too slowly and racking up demurrage. A good agent prevents all three.
