Start with local content, not the price
Ghana's mining regulations place Ghanaian participation first. The Minerals Commission publishes a procurement list of goods and services that mining companies are expected to buy locally, and it reviews the list every year. When a mine assesses bids for items on that list, it must choose the bid with the highest level of Ghanaian participation in ownership, management and employment.
For a foreign supplier, this changes the first question. Before you quote, check whether the item is on the current list. If it is, you will generally need to sell through a Ghanaian-registered partner or distributor rather than directly. If it is not, the mine can buy from you, but local content is still part of how mines judge their suppliers. Read our separate article on local content for foreign suppliers for the detail.
Write the specification before you ask for prices
Most sourcing disasters start with a loose specification. For consumables and spares, put these on paper first:
- The OEM part number, or the grade and standard, for example the steel grade and plate thickness for wear plate
- The quantity, the delivery date and the delivery point
- The certificates you require, such as mill test certificates for steel or a certificate of conformity
- Packaging that can survive the journey and a Ghanaian wet season
Send the same specification to at least three qualified suppliers so the quotes can be compared fairly.
Compare landed cost, not unit price
A low unit price from overseas can turn into a high cost on site. Build every quote into a landed cost with these lines:
| Cost line | Notes |
|---|---|
| Goods price | Check what is included and what the minimum order is |
| Freight and marine insurance | Depends on the Incoterm you agree (see below) |
| Import duty and taxes | Confirm the rate for each tariff line with your clearing agent. Some mining companies may have exemptions under their licenses, so ask the mine's customs team and do not assume. |
| ICUMS fee | The U.S. Commercial Service reports 0.75% of the FOB value. Check the current rate. |
| Port, clearing and inland haulage | From Tema or Takoradi to site |
| Inspection and testing | Before shipment and, if needed, on arrival |
| Cost of money | Deposits paid early and goods that sit in transit |
Agree an Incoterm, and say it in writing
Incoterms are standard trade terms that set who pays for transport and insurance and who carries the risk at each stage. FOB, CIF and DAP are the ones you will see most often. The point is simple: when goods are lost or damaged in transit, the contract must already say whose problem it is. Write the Incoterm and the named place into the purchase order, for example “CIF Takoradi” or “DAP mine site.”
Plan for customs, and add a time cushion
Imports to Ghana are processed electronically through ICUMS, the Integrated Customs Management System. In outline, the importer of record submits a bill of entry with its supporting documents, then a customs declaration, and needs a Tax Clearance Certificate from the Ghana Revenue Authority in its name. Goods are examined by customs and, depending on the product, by other bodies such as the Ghana Standards Authority. Most mines and importers use a licensed clearing agent for this.
Build in a cushion. The World Bank has estimated about 14 days for goods to clear the border, and the U.S. Commercial Service reports that 60 to 80 percent of imports are inspected on arrival. A part that is needed to keep a plant running should never be scheduled to arrive on the day it is needed.
Control quality before the ship leaves
It is far cheaper to find a defect at the supplier's factory than at the mine gate. For anything important, appoint an independent inspector, arranged and paid for by the buyer, to check the goods against the specification before shipment. Keep the test reports and certificates with the shipping documents. If a certificate looks wrong, verify it with the body that issued it.
Pay in a way that protects you
- Never pay a new supplier in full up front.
- Make sure the name on the bank account matches the supplier's registered company name exactly, and confirm the bank details by phone, never from the email that carries them.
- For larger orders, release money in stages tied to documents and proof, and hold back the balance until the independent inspection passes. For high-value first orders, ask your bank about a letter of credit.
Our article on paying a supplier in China safely sets out the staged-payment approach in detail. The same principles apply to suppliers in any country.
Common pitfalls
- Quoting on an item that sits on the procurement list without a qualified Ghanaian partner.
- Treating the unit price as the cost.
- An unclear specification, followed by a dispute over what was ordered.
- No time cushion for customs and inspection.
- Paying the full amount before anyone has seen the goods.
Going deeper. The author of this article has published fill-in guides for suppliers and investors working in Ghana, including Mine-Ready (vendor compliance for mine suppliers) and Partner-Ready (local content partnerships for foreign suppliers). See all of them on our guides page.
Please note. This article is general information, last checked in October 2026. Rules, forms and thresholds change, so confirm the current requirements with the agency or office named in the sources below before you rely on any detail. It is not legal advice.