This guide brings together the key customs declaration information travellers should know when arriving in Ghana.

1. Mandatory declarations on arrival

Travellers should declare:

• Dutiable and commercial items: All dutiable and commercial items must be declared to Customs. This is legally required under customs regulations and aligns with World Customs Organization (WCO) standards.
• Currency: Amounts above USD 10,000 must be declared using the Bank of Ghana FX Declaration Form.
• Arms and ammunition: All firearms and ammunition must be declared upon arrival.

2. Written and oral declarations

Travellers can make a formal written or oral declaration for imported items upon arrival.

3. Where to find the declaration form

The declaration form is available in hard copy at points of entry in the Customs Control Area.

It is currently not available in soft copy. The authority is in the process of putting a soft copy online.

4. What qualifies as duty-free baggage?

Under Ghana Customs rules, duty-free baggage generally includes:

• Personal effects and baggage: Clothing, jewellery, toiletries, glasses, toys and household items that are clearly for personal or household use and not for sale.
• Electrical goods: Items such as phones or laptops must typically have been in your use for at least six months to qualify.
• Professional instruments and tools: Instruments or tools used for your profession may also qualify where they are for non-commercial use.

5. Alcohol and tobacco duty-free limits

Standard duty-free limits per passenger aged 18 or over are:

• Up to 750 mL of wine
• Up to 375 mL of spirits
• Up to 500 g of tobacco products, including cigarettes and cigars

Anything beyond these quantities is considered dutiable and must be declared.

6. Green Channel vs Red Channel

Green Channel

Use the Green Channel if you are sure you are carrying goods that are free of duty and allowable under passenger baggage concessions.

Red Channel

Passengers carrying the following goods should use the Red Channel:

1. Commercial goods
2. Restricted goods or drinks in excess of allowed quantities
3. Goods imported temporarily

7. PUBD: Passengers’ Unaccompanied Baggage Declaration

PUBD means Passengers’ Unaccompanied Baggage Declaration.

It is used to declare personal items that:

• Arrived separately, or
• Will arrive later

Travellers must complete it upon arrival or within 48 hours to legally claim duty-free status on those items.

8. Returning Ghanaian residents and personal effects

Ghanaian residents who have lived abroad can import qualifying personal effects duty-free when returning to Ghana after being abroad for at least 12 consecutive months.

The items should be for personal use and not commercial purposes.

Eligibility criteria

To qualify:

• You must be a Ghanaian citizen.
• You must have lived continuously outside Ghana for at least 12 months before your return.
• You should be aged 18 or over.

9. Items excluded from removal articles

The following cannot be included under removal articles:

• Motor vehicles
• Arms
• Automotive spare parts
• Building materials
• Goods in commercial quantities

10. Foreign currency declaration threshold

Amounts above USD 10,000 must be declared using the Bank of Ghana FX Declaration Form.

11. Ghana’s Green/Red system and WCO recommendations

Ghana’s dual-channel system aligns with World Customs Organization recommendations for:

• Risk management
• Trade facilitation
• Efficient passenger control

It allows Customs to distinguish between lower-risk and higher-risk travellers while maintaining security and compliance.

12. Oral declarations under WCO standards

Oral declarations are permitted for certain categories of goods, including:

• Personal effects and personal baggage
• Non-commercial goods
• Goods within duty-free allowances

13. WCO guidance on unaccompanied baggage

The World Customs Organization supports simplified and facilitative procedures for unaccompanied baggage, particularly under the Revised Kyoto Convention.

The guidance provides that:

• Unaccompanied baggage should be treated similarly to accompanied baggage when the goods are for personal use.
• Travellers should not be penalized simply because their baggage arrives separately.
• Simplified procedures, including oral declarations and standard forms such as PUBD, should be available for clearing such goods.

Quick arrival checklist

Before choosing a customs channel, ask yourself:

• Am I carrying anything for sale or in commercial quantities?
• Am I carrying alcohol or tobacco above the permitted allowance?
• Am I carrying more than USD 10,000 or its equivalent?
• Am I carrying firearms or ammunition?
• Am I expecting personal baggage to arrive separately?

If any of these apply, declare the relevant items to Customs and use the appropriate Red Channel procedure where required.

Important: Customs rules and administrative procedures can change. Before travelling, confirm current requirements with the relevant Ghanaian authorities, particularly for currency, firearms, restricted goods, duty-free allowances and returning-resident concessions.