How to Ship to Ghana from the US
Ghana is West Africa's most stable economy and a growing hub for the African diaspora returning goods from the US. Accra's Kotoka International Airport handles international air cargo well, and DHL, FedEx, and UPS all have strong local operations. Ghana is one of the more reliable West African shipping destinations.
Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) charges import duties plus VAT (12.5%) and NHIL (2.5%) on imports. Ghana abolished its controversial benchmark values for import duties in 2021, moving to CIF-based duties. Import duty rates range from 0% to 20% depending on product category. Ghana has no meaningful de minimis exemption — all imports are dutiable.
Typical 1 lb cost
$50–$75 USD
Typical transit
5–18 business days
Carrier Options to Ghana
DHL Express Worldwide
Best for Ghana. 3-5 business days. DHL has the strongest network in West Africa.
FedEx International Priority
3-5 business days. Good for high-value business shipments to Accra.
UPS Worldwide Expedited
5-7 business days. Covers Accra metro area well.
USPS Priority Mail International
2–4 weeks via Ghana Post. Budget option; reliability is variable.
Customs Forms Required
CN22 for items under $400. CN23 + commercial invoice for higher-value shipments.
Commonly Prohibited Items
- ✕Narcotic drugs and illegal substances
- ✕Firearms and ammunition without authorization
- ✕Pornographic material
- ✕Counterfeit goods
- ✕Used clothing and footwear in large quantities without proper permits
Ghana-Specific Shipping Tips
- 💡 Ghana uses CIF (cost + insurance + freight) as the duty base — higher shipping costs increase the customs valuation
- 💡 VAT (12.5%) plus NHIL (2.5%) = 15% on most goods, plus import duty on top
- 💡 DHL has the best West Africa network — strongly preferred over USPS for Ghana
- 💡 Accra addresses are improving but can be informal — include phone number and neighborhood name
- 💡 Used clothing (obroni wawu) import rules have tightened — avoid shipping large quantities of secondhand goods
Frequently asked questions
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