Ghana Export Promotion Authority Form

An Export Promotion Authority Form in Ghana organises the details a party must supply for the purpose it serves.

The Export and Import Act 1995 (Act 503) establishes the legal framework governing all export and import activities in Ghana. Section 1 of Act 503 vests regulatory authority over export promotion and trade facilitation in the relevant government agency, which in practice operates through GEPA, a statutory body established under the Export and Import (Amendment) Act 2000. GEPA's mandate includes registering exporters, certifying export products for quality compliance, enabling access to export credit guarantees through the Ghana Export-Import Bank, and representing Ghana at international trade fairs and buyer-seller meetings organised under the auspices of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat based in Accra.

The Ghana Export Promotion Authority Form Ghana is distinct from the Ghana Customs Export Entry processed through the Ghana Integrated Cargo Management System (ICUMS) administered by the GRA Customs Division. The GEPA registration form is a one-time or periodic registration enabling exporters to access GEPA services and the Non-Traditional Exports (NTE) database, while the ICUMS export declaration is a transaction-specific customs clearance document required for each export shipment. Exporters who process cocoa, gold, and timber — Ghana's three traditional export commodities — are additionally regulated by the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), the Minerals Commission, and the Forestry Commission respectively, and must comply with separate licensing requirements under the Ghana Cocoa Board Act 1984 (PNDCL 81), the Minerals and Mining Act 2006 (Act 703), and the Timber Resources Management Act 1998 (Act 547).

The legal framework applicable to the Ghana Export Promotion Authority Form Ghana encompasses multiple statutes and regulatory bodies. The Export and Import Act 1995 (Act 503) provides the primary statutory basis. The Customs Act 2015 (Act 891) governs customs export procedures at all ports of entry and exit in Ghana. The Ghana Standards Authority Act 1973 (Act 239) requires export products to meet applicable Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) quality certification standards before export. The Bank of Ghana Foreign Exchange Act 2006 (Act 723) requires all export proceeds to be repatriated through Ghana's banking system within 60 days of shipment. The Free Zones Act 1995 (Act 504) creates a parallel regime for enterprises operating in Ghana Free Zones, which are exempt from certain export restrictions under Act 503 but must maintain separate GEPA registrations for free zone activities.

Forms-legal.com provides this template as a starting point for Ghanaian exporters. The Ghana Export Promotion Authority Form Ghana is commonly required alongside the Form M equivalent for Ghana (the export documentation checklist), the Certificate of Origin issued by the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) or the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI), and phytosanitary certificates issued by the Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate (PPRSD) of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) for agricultural exports.

A Ghana Export Promotion Authority Form is needed in Ghana in the following circumstances.

The Ghana Export Promotion Authority Form is required when a Ghanaian business — whether a company incorporated under the Companies Act 2019 (Act 992) and registered with the Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC), a sole trader, or a partnership — intends to export non-traditional export goods such as processed foods, handicrafts, garments, pharmaceuticals, or horticultural products and wishes to access GEPA's export development programmes, market information services, or participation in international trade fairs.

The form is needed when an exporter wishes to obtain a GEPA Certificate of Registration, which is required by many international buyers as evidence that the Ghanaian supplier is a registered and verified exporter. The Ghana Export Promotion Authority Form is a prerequisite for inclusion in GEPA's official Exporter Directory, which is shared with foreign missions, trade commissioners, and potential buyers in target markets including the European Union, the United States under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), and regional markets under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Trade Liberalisation Scheme.

The form is required when an exporter seeks to access the Export Development and Investment Fund (EDIF) or export credit guarantees supportd through the Ghana Export-Import Bank under the Ghana Export-Import Bank Act 2016 (Act 911), as GEPA registration is a prerequisite for such financial support.

The Ghana Export Promotion Authority Form is needed when a company operating in a Ghana Free Zone under the Free Zones Act 1995 (Act 504) wishes to register its export activities separately with GEPA for the purpose of accessing non-free-zone export markets and dual reporting to the Ghana Free Zones Authority and GEPA.

Parties in Ghana should complete the Ghana Export Promotion Authority Form proactively. GEPA registration supports access to government-backed export promotion support, reduces administrative delays at Tema Port and Takoradi Port, and provides the exporter with a formal standing in Ghana's non-traditional export sector under the Export and Import Act 1995 (Act 503).

Parties in Ghana should prepare a Ghana Export Promotion Authority Form proactively rather than waiting for a dispute to arise. Courts interpret agreements based on the written terms rather than oral representations. Under Ghanaian law, the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana 1992 is the supreme law. The Courts Act 1993 (Act 459) governs court procedures. The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) administers tax under the Income Tax Act 2015 (Act 896). The High Court of Ghana has unlimited original jurisdiction under Article 140 of the Constitution. The Data Protection Act 2012 (Act 843) and the Data Protection Commission govern personal data processing. Where the transaction involves regulated activities, prior approval from the relevant authority may be required before execution.

A valid Ghana Export Promotion Authority Form under the Export and Import Act 1995 (Act 503) must contain the following essential elements.

Exporter Identity and Business Details: Full legal name of the exporting entity, business registration number issued by the Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC) under the Companies Act 2019 (Act 992) or the Registrar-General's Department for older registrations, Tax Identification Number (TIN) issued by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), and Ghana Card number or passport number of the authorised signatory. The registered business address in Ghana and the principal place of business (factory, warehouse, or farm) must be stated separately.

Products for Export: Description of the export product or products, including the Harmonised System (HS) Code under the Ghana Customs Tariff Schedule maintained by the GRA Customs Division, the unit of measurement, and the average annual export volume in metric tonnes or equivalent. Products subject to quality certification under the Ghana Standards Authority Act 1973 (Act 239) must reference the applicable Ghana Standard specification number.

Export Markets: Principal destination countries or regions for the exported goods. For exports to European Union member states, relevant European Union sanitary and phytosanitary requirements under EU Regulation 2017/625 and EU Directive 2001/18/EC on genetically modified organisms must be acknowledged where applicable. For exports under AGOA, the exporter must confirm US Customs and Border Protection eligibility requirements are met.

Bank Details and Foreign Exchange Compliance: Name of the exporter's bank — which must be a Bank of Ghana-licensed commercial bank — branch, and account number to confirm compliance with the Bank of Ghana Foreign Exchange Act 2006 (Act 723) repatriation requirements. Export proceeds must be repatriated within 60 days of shipment.

Declarations and Authorised Signature: A declaration by the authorised officer of the exporting entity that the information provided is true and correct, that the exporter complies with all applicable laws including Act 503, the Customs Act 2015 (Act 891), and the Ghana Standards Authority Act 1973 (Act 239). The signature of the Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer, or duly authorised signatory is required, together with the company seal where applicable.

GEPA Use Section: Fields reserved for GEPA officers to record the GEPA registration number, date of registration, certificate validity period (typically two years), and the name of the GEPA regional office processing the application (Accra Head Office, Kumasi Regional Office, Takoradi Regional Office, or Tamale Regional Office).

Additional compliance elements for a Ghana Export Promotion Authority Form used in Ghana include: verification that applicable export licences have been obtained from sector regulators (Minerals Commission, Forestry Commission, PPRSD/MOFA, or COCOBOD as applicable); confirmation that the exporter is not on the GRA non-compliance register; and reference to the Certificate of Origin issued by the AGI or GNCCI. Forms-legal.com provides this template as a starting point for Ghana-compliant export documentation.

Additional compliance elements for a Ghana Export Promotion Authority Form used in Ghana include: Under Ghanaian law, the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana 1992 is the supreme law. The Courts Act 1993 (Act 459) governs court procedures. The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) administers tax under the Income Tax Act 2015 (Act 896). The High Court of Ghana has unlimited original jurisdiction under Article 140 of the Constitution. The Data Protection Act 2012 (Act 843) and the Data Protection Commission govern personal data processing. Forms-legal.com provides this template as a starting point for Ghana-compliant documentation.