The Vehicle and Asset Dealers Union of Ghana (VADUG) has called on the government to suspend the planned implementation of the Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) programme for imported vehicles.

The group insisted that the policy should not take effect without broader stakeholder engagement.

The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) is expected to roll out the programme on October 1, 2026, to ensure that imported vehicles meet Ghana’s safety and technical standards before they are shipped into the country.

The initiative forms part of efforts to improve quality assurance, enhance consumer protection and prevent substandard vehicles from entering the local market.

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However, VADUG has opined that the implementation timeline is too soon and could disrupt the vehicle import business if concerns raised by industry players are not adequately addressed.

Speaking to Citi Business News on Monday, August 3, 2026, the General Secretary of VADUG, Frank Kofigah Atanley, urged the Ghana Standards Authority to halt the rollout and deepen consultations with stakeholders across the automotive import sector.

He cautioned that proceeding with the programme without addressing outstanding concerns could threaten jobs and create uncertainty within the industry.

“If we want to use an agency of state to somehow frustrate a market, I think it begs more questions than answers. A lot of people are going to lose jobs if we are not careful with this implementation. And as VADAC, we are calling the Standards Board to hold on. We are asking them to put a halt on this. There are a lot of safety questions that need to be answered,” he said.

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Atanley stressed that wider stakeholder engagement would help address operational issues, clarify implementation procedures and ensure a smoother transition to the new regulatory framework.

He added that although the union supports efforts to improve vehicle quality and consumer safety, such reforms should be implemented in collaboration with industry players to minimise disruptions and ensure effective compliance.

DR/SA