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The short answer
To bring packaged Nigerian food into Ghana for sale you need an FDA Ghana importer licence, each product registered with the FDA, and an approved electronic import permit on the eMDA portal before the goods arrive. At the port or border the consignment is physically inspected, and it must have at least two-thirds of its shelf life left; customs also needs the waybill, attested invoice, packing list and Import Declaration Form.
Garri, poundo yam flour, Indomie-style noodles, palm oil, ogbono, crayfish, spice mixes, drinks: there is steady demand in Accra and Kumasi for food Nigerians know. Bringing it in as a business, rather than in a suitcase, means dealing with the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA Ghana) and the Ghana Revenue Authority's Customs Division. This guide follows the FDA's current import guideline for prepackaged food (version 05, effective 2 July 2025) and GRA's import procedure.
The four FDA requirements
1. A licensed importer
The FDA guideline says only businesses licensed by the FDA as importers, under section 122(1) of the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851), may import. If you are new, either get your Ghanaian company licensed or buy through an importer that already is. Using an existing licensed importer is often the faster way to test demand with a first container before setting up your own licence.
2. Every product registered
Prepackaged foods for local sale must be registered with the FDA under section 97 of Act 851 before import. Registration is per product, so a 1 kg and a 5 kg bag of the same garri, or two brands of the same pepper soup spice, are separate items. If an unregistered consignment arrives, the FDA issues a temporary pseudo registration number so the permit and clearance can proceed, clears the goods under detention, and registers the product after it leaves the port. That is a fallback, not a plan: detention ties up stock and cash.
3. An eMDA import permit for each shipment
You apply on the eMDA portal and need an approved permit before importing. The application asks for the full product name with brand, the FDA registration number, the authorised person's name and phone, the HS code, unit of quantity, and contact details for importer and exporter. A verification fee, set by the FDA from the FOB value of the consignment under its fee schedule (L.I. 2386 of 2019), is paid at the bank, on ghana.gov or at approved entry points. Processing may take up to 24 hours or one working day after payment. A permit can be presented to Customs only once, and short-landed goods need a new permit. For costs, see what an FDA food import permit costs.
4. Shelf life and inspection
Prepackaged food for sale must have at least two-thirds of its shelf life intact at port clearance. Every prepackaged food consignment is physically inspected. Compliant goods are released; goods that can be fixed may be detained at your cost; rejected goods are re-exported or destroyed under FDA supervision, also at your cost.
| Product (example) | Shelf life on label | Must have left at clearance |
|---|---|---|
| Noodles | 12 months | 8 months |
| Garri, 5 kg | 9 months | 6 months |
| Malt drink | 6 months | 4 months |
What GRA Customs needs
GRA's import procedure lists the documents your clearing agent submits in ICUMS:
- Original waybill or bill of lading
- Attested invoice
- Packing list
- Import Declaration Form (IDF) from the Ministry of Trade
- Your TIN from GRA or Ghana Card PIN
- Permits from the regulators for the goods, here the FDA eMDA permit
Duty and levies are then assessed; see how Ghana customs duty is worked out on goods from Nigeria. If the goods qualify for the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, the Nigerian producer's approval matters; see using ETLS for Nigerian goods.
Penalties to avoid
- Under-declaring the FOB value: the FDA collects the unpaid verification fee plus 100% of that amount as a penalty.
- Unregistered products: clearance under detention, seizure, re-export at your cost, fines or prosecution under the Public Health Act.
- Touching detained goods without permission is an offence under section 136(2) of Act 851.
The Nigerian end
Your Nigerian supplier is exporting, so the supplier's bank will process Form NXP for a commercial export, which needs a valid Nigerian TIN. The Nigeria Trade Information Portal also lists permits that may apply at export, such as NAFDAC and quarantine. See Form NXP for exports to Ghana.
Steps, in order
- Get the FDA importer licence (or use a licensed importer).
- Register each product with the FDA, using the supplier's label and product details.
- Agree with the supplier who handles Nigerian export papers and the haulage.
- Apply and pay for the eMDA permit before the goods leave Lagos.
- Check best-before dates at loading against the two-thirds rule.
- Have your clearing agent lodge the ICUMS declaration with the documents above.
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme Business Account can be opened from Ghana and pays Nigerian suppliers in naira; the app shows the rate and the fee before you approve. Invoicing and verifiable receipts help you keep the FOB value on your paperwork consistent with what you actually paid.
Questions people ask
Do I need an FDA permit to import garri into Ghana?
For prepackaged garri sold commercially, yes: an FDA-licensed importer, a registered product and an approved eMDA import permit for each consignment.
How long does an FDA Ghana import permit take?
The FDA guideline says processing may take up to 24 hours or one working day after the verification fee is paid.
What shelf life does FDA Ghana require on imported food?
Prepackaged food for local sale must have at least two-thirds of its shelf life remaining at port clearance.
What if my product is not registered with FDA Ghana?
The FDA can issue a temporary pseudo registration number and clear the goods under detention, then register the product. Unregistered goods also risk seizure, re-export at your cost or fines.
Sources
- FDA Ghana: Guideline on Processing of Import Permit and Clearance of Prepackaged Foods, FDA/ICD/GDL-02/05 (effective 2 Jul 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- Ghana Revenue Authority: Customs Import Procedures · accessed Oct 2026
- Nigeria Trade Information Portal (NSW): Export procedure · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.