Take a look at the Internet Sources Provided under Information Sources on this website.
How do I identify potential buyers/distributors in export markets?
DATABASE SEARCHES- You may be able to find appropriate companies yourself by visiting a number of publicly accessible Internet databases. You can also find companies by broad industry sectors or keywords using a number of on-line sources. See Information Sources
INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS There are a number of industry and sector associations whose members are importers. You may wish to contact them for the necessary information.
You may also visit GEPC product and market division for further information on this.
Does GEPC have any Programmes or services to assist Exporters and prospective exporters?
Yes GEPC offers various export Programmes and services to assist a wide range of Ghanaian exporters, new to exporting or experienced exporters interested in expanding into new markets. These are:
• Market access and penetration missions, Contact Promotion Programmes, Trade Fairs and exhibitions, Buyer-Seller meetings and Conferences, Group-marketing schemes etc.
• Organization of contract production/supply schemes, establishment of Export Production Village Schemes, technical advisory services to facilitate product and market development as well as supply chain management.
• Provision of Trade information. GEPC has established the Ghana Export Trade Information System which provides the exporter community in Ghana with tools to access and use trade information to make strategic export decisions.
• An Export School that organizes product, market and specialized trade development courses for export companies, trade facilitating agencies and businesses. The Ghana Export School delivers training in Fundamentals in Export Marketing. This programme is designed to introduce small and medium-sized companies to the basics of exporting. There are also other specialized programmes for other members of the exporter community.
How can I obtain information on foreign regulations, standards or certification required for my product?
Export products must conform to the health and safety standards of the target market. In Ghana, information on standards can be obtained from:
How do I determine which foreign markets are available for my product?
Through market research, an exporter can determine which foreign markets have the best potential for his products. An exporter should seek a few target markets based on the demographic and physical environment, the political environment, economic factors, the social and cultural environment, market accessibility, and product potential for specific products. He should conduct a thorough market factor assessment to predict demand for its product in each potential target market. For each market being considered, the exporter should answer the following questions:
What is the overall population of each country? Also consider growth and density trends.
• Are there climactic and weather variations that may affect the product or service offered?
• Are there adequate shipping, packaging, unloading, and other local distribution networks?
• What is the government’s attitude towards conducting business and the importation of foreign products?
• Is the political system stable or do governing coalitions often change radically?
• Is the country promoting higher levels of imports and exports?
• To what degree is the target market similar to the home market?
• Will the product or service need to be translated and/or adopted?
• What are the documentary requirements and other technical or environmental import regulations?
• What are the intellectual property laws that could affect the product or service?
Where can I obtain financing for my product?
The following are some of the financial interventions available for the export sector
Export Development and Investment Fund
Venture Capital fund
Micro and Small Loans Centre
Support Programme for Enterprises Empowerment and Development
For detailed information on these institutions “Information Sources”
How do I determine if my Company is 'export ready'?
Becoming export ready is a multi-phase process, and knowing where to begin is often the most challenging part of an export venture.
Realistically evaluate your experience before preparing for foreign market sales: Typically, companies should be in operation for at least two years before entering the foreign market. Success in the foreign market is not impossible before this time frame, but an established business will be better able to understand its capabilities and short comings.
You must be prepared to increase and maintain production capacity to meet increased demand: A successful export business extends beyond a one-time business exchange. Your company may have to increase production levels to maintain current business requirements and fill new export orders.
Have financial resources in place to fund expansion and/or market development. You must have access to ample human resources and communications technology.
For more details on getting ready to export, complete "Assess Your Export Readiness" useful resource for new exporters.
What incentives are available for exporters in Ghana?
GEPC in close collaboration with other export-related institutions plays a crusading role in the establishment of incentive schemes for exporters, some of which are as follows:-
An Export Proceeds Retention Scheme. This allows exporters to retain all (i.e. 100%) foreign exchange proceeds from non-traditional exports.
A Corporate Tax Rebate allows any manufacturer or any person engaged in agricultural production, exporting part or all of his production, to claim tax rebate between 40% and 75% of his tax liability.
Duty Drawback- This is refund on import duties after the importer re-exports previously imported products known as Same-State Drawback. It is also a refund of import duties paid on imported raw materials used in the production of finished goods for export known as Material Drawback
A Bonded Warehousing allows manufacturers to seek Customs license to hold imported raw materials intended for manufacturing for export in secured places without payment of duty.
Up-front Exemption. This Scheme operates alongside the duty-drawback scheme and allows exporters to enjoy 100% duty exemption on selected imports intended to go into production.
What major export documents should an exporter be familiar with?
Packing List: Itemizes the contents of each package in an export consignment and indicates the type of packaging used. Should indicate weights, measurements, and other details of each package. It can be attached to the outside of a package in waterproof material. A Packing List is also necessary for obtaining insurance for your shipment.
Ghana Export Form: All non-traditional exporters are required to complete a Ghana Export Form, obtainable from the Customs Excise and Preventive Service.
Commercial Invoice: A bill from the exporter to the importer for the goods consigned. A good commercial invoice should have information on the quantity, description and price per unit of the goods, total price, payment terms, name and address of the buyer, and the exporter’s address.
Customs Entry Form: Obtainable from the Customs Excise and Preventive Service, and carries information on the consignee’s (buyer) name and address, the exporter’s particulars, carrier of the goods, and description of the goods including the harmonized code.
Certificate of Origin: is a document that accompanies an export to provide proof of the source of a product or extent of processing for determination of tariffs. As a member of the WTO, Ghana enjoys preferential rate for its exports and the only way for the preference to be given is the possession by the exporter of a Certificate of Origin. The preference varies from one trading bloc to the other:
EUR1 - European Union
GSP - U.S.A., Japan, Canada, Switzerland, etc.
AGOA Visa - USA.
Certificate of Health / Phytosanitary Certificate: Issued by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture at exit points and usually required for the export of food or drinks. Fish exports to the European Union are however an exception. In this case, Certificates of Health can only be obtained from the Ghana Standards Board.
Certificate of Inspection: Some buyers or importing countries require certificates attesting to the quality and price of goods shipped, and this is usually done by specialized independent inspection agencies. Where such inspection is required, insist that your buyer bear the cost of inspection. SGS, Inchcape, Cotecna, and BIVAC International are examples of inspection agencies in Ghana.
Bill of Lading: A contract between the exporter and the shipper for the transportation of goods. They may be negotiable or non-negotiable. Negotiable Bills of Lading have monetary value and can even be sold before the goods reach their destination (with original copies only). Bills of Lading also provide proof of ownership of goods and describe the goods being shipped.
Air Waybill: Similar to a Bill of Lading except that it is difficult to use as a title document, and therefore has no monetary value. Importers can clear the goods from the airport even without the original Air Waybill.
Game and Wildlife Certificate: Issued by the Department of Game and Wildlife and required for the export of all wild animals.
Forest Products Inspection Bureau (FPIB) Permit: Required for the export of all wood products.
Certificate of Insurance: Issued once you have insured your goods, and indicates the type and amount of coverage. Like the Bill of Lading, the insurance certificate is a negotiable document and therefore has monetary value.
GCNet: This is a customs management system set up to connect all regulatory agencies in Ghana to one network using an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) system (i.e. a TradeNet) to process trade and customs declarations, and the payments involved, by all parties connected to the system. The system also allows relevant statutory bodies to issue exemptions, permits, or approvals through the system, monitor revenue collections, to extract data from the system for statutory reports
What are some of the exportable products that do not require permits?
Art Work of contemporary conception, design and Production:
Paintings, Carvings and Sculptures made of Wood, Fabric, Metal, Stone and Jewellery.
All types of Baskets made of Straw (Bolga)
Wicket, Rattan, Palm, Branch Strips, Slat, Bast Fibre, etc. of recent manufacture. Articles made of Straw Rattan, Kenaf, Bamboo, Raffia and Willow.
Drums and Musical Instruments:
Drums, Xylophones, Flutes, Maracas, Castanets (Thumb Bells), Musical Instruments of contemporary production and manufacture.
Garments of all types and made from all kinds of material:
Clearly of contemporary design and fabrication. Footwear - Sandals, Boots in Leather Other fabrics - Shawls, Leggings, contemporary design and production.
Leather goods of contemporary production.
Print-Type simulated Kente and all objects made of it, such as Hand Bags, Purses, Jackets, Anoraks, etc.
Woven Kente of recent manufacture in all forms of usage and applications, from neckties through traditional wear outfits. All items of the Royalty and Chiefly regalia. Kente accessories, Kente Strips, Kente Stoles, Kente Bags, Kente Head Bands, Kente Earrings, Kente Ties and Cummerbunds, Kente Garments, Kente Footwear, Kente Caps, Kente Bracelets.
Is there a prohibition list of export products?
Under the laws of Ghana, the following products are prohibited exports:
Narcotics
Parrots
Ghanaian currency in excess of GH¢500
Round logs (12 species)
Rattan Canes & Bamboo
Obscene / Pornographic Materials
Goods prohibited by any other laws
What Export Permits / Certificates do I need?
There are various export permits/certificates to be obtained, depending on the product to be exported
Antiques
Ghana Museum and Monuments Board
Department of Game and wildlife - Products made from animal parts
Cocoa Beans - Fumigation and Quality Assurance by Control Division of Ghana Cocoa Marketing Board (COCOBOD)
Where GCNet/GCMS is operational, the declaration would be submitted electronically.
For validation/acceptance of the declaration, physical examination of the product by Customs Excise & Preventive Service (CEPS) is required
Where GCNet/GCMS is not operational, purchase a set of Ghana Customs Non-Traditional Export Forms at any CEPS post.
Complete the form (typed or hand-written) and attach all relevant documents, such as invoice (where necessary), permit or certificates; and present to customs for processing.
If Customs is satisfied with the examination, the goods are released for export.
What procedures do I have to go through when exporting my product?
Register with the Ghana Export Promotion Council,
then obtain the following:
Instruction for Dispatch of Goods (IDG) from the Airline
Packing List
Invoice covering the goods
Certificate of Origin from Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry
* EUR 1 Certificate to ACP Countries
* Generalised System of Preference (GSP) Form to the United States and Non-ACP Countries
Requisite Permits / Certificates
Why should I register with GEPC when I want to export?
GEPC is a statutory body set up by NLCD 396 under the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI) to develop and promote Ghana’s exports. On 7th April 2000, MOTI issued an administrative directive to ALL EXPORTERS to register with GEPC. The objectives of the registration exercise are as follows:-
To build a database that will facilitate the collection of up-to-date information on exports and exporters for the provision of appropriate assistance programmes (both national and international) for export companies;
The matching of exporters with foreign buyers and other business interests;
To monitor the performance of exporters for purposes of export support schemes, awards and selection and recommendation for other enhanced facilities/incentives provided by GEPC and other export-related institutions;
To give due regard to recognizable and reliable export companies to be carried in national export drive programmes;
To provide the basis for strengthening private sector product associations
The registration is renewable on an annual basis and it constitutes the first step in the system designed to improving the monitoring of Ghana’s export performance.
How do I get ECOWAS Trade Liberalization scheme (ETLS) Approval?
ETLS is a scheme drawn up by member states of ECOWAS to eliminate tariff and non-tariff measures that obstruct the free flow of goods in the sub-region.
A manufacturer who wants to export within West African Sub-region and enjoy the benefits of the ETLS must after registering with GEPC, fulfill the following requirements:
Obtain an ETLS Registration Form from GEPC for a fee of GH¢10 (subject to change)
Return the completed forms to GEPC for onward forwarding to the Secretariat in Abuja for approval.
An Exporter registering for the first time is advised to state the names of future products to be produced. If this is not done, the exporter will have to apply for the scheme for each separate product that is produced in future
What is Non-traditional Exports?
All export products in Ghana have been categorized into two main groups: Traditional and Non-traditional Exports. The traditional export products are
Mineral ore such as unprocessed gold,
Cocoa Beans,
Timber Logs and Lumber
Electricity
Fresh fish
Fresh yam
Non-traditional exports are all other products outside the above list of traditional export products. Currently, there are over 383 different non-traditional Export products categorized into Agricultural, Processed /semi Processed, Handicrafts and Services exports
What procedures must I go through before I can commence my export business?
An exporter must first of all register his business with the Registrar General’s Department. Then he registers with GEPC with the following requirements:
For a Limited Liability Company:
A Certificate of Incorporation
A Certificate to Commence Business
The Company’s Regulation Code
Tax Identification Number (TIN)
E-mail address
Cell Phone number
For Sole Proprietorship/ Enterprise
A Certificate of Registration
Form A
E-mail address
Cell Phone number
What is the role of GEPC in Ghana's Export Trade?
Ghana Export Promotion Council (GEPC) is the National Export Trade Support Institution, facilitating the development and promotion of Ghana’s Non-Traditional Exports.
It was established by NLCD 396 in 1969 as an agency of the Ministry of Trade and Industry with the mandate to develop and promote Ghanaian exports. The focus of GEPC has primarily been to diversify Ghana’s export base from the traditional export products of Gold, Cocoa Beans, Timber Logs and Lumber and Electricity.
GEPC is positioned in the national export system as a coordinating pivot for the various public and private sector trade agencies involved in trade development and facilitation.
