MARKET · ECOWAS · TRADE IN WEST AFRICA
Selling across West Africa under 🌍 ECOWAS
The ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) removes customs duties on goods that originate in a member state, if your product and your proof of origin are in order. Each destination still applies its own health, product and tax rules. Here is everything Passmark tracks for exporters from Ghana.
What 🌍 ECOWAS buyers ask for your product
Shea butter → ECOWAS
HS 1515.90 · 9 REQUIREMENTS
Community origin: wholly obtained or sufficiently processed
ECOWAS Commission (rules); Ghana Customs (verification)
Direct transport and destination import rules
Destination Member State customs; ETLS focal points
ETLS or AfCFTA: which preference applies
ECOWAS Commission; AfCFTA Secretariat
Free-zone enterprises only: free-zone goods cannot claim ETLS origin
ECOWAS Commission
ETLS enterprise and product approval (processed goods)
Ghana (via GEPA) to the ECOWAS Commission
ECOWAS Certificate of Community Origin (GNCCI) or invoice declaration
Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI); Ghana Customs
Free-zone enterprises only: domestic sales capped at 30% of production
Ghana Free Zones Authority; Ghana Revenue Authority (Customs)
Free-zone enterprises only: AfCFTA treatment of free-zone goods
AfCFTA Secretariat; GRA Customs; Ghana Free Zones Authority
“If it applies” items depend on how you sell, for example as organic or under a preferential tariff. See all 9 requirements →
Cashew → ECOWAS
HS 0801.31, 0801.32 · 9 REQUIREMENTS
Community origin: wholly obtained or sufficiently processed
ECOWAS Commission (rules); Ghana Customs (verification)
Direct transport and destination import rules
Destination Member State customs; ETLS focal points
ETLS or AfCFTA: which preference applies
ECOWAS Commission; AfCFTA Secretariat
Free-zone enterprises only: free-zone goods cannot claim ETLS origin
ECOWAS Commission
ETLS enterprise and product approval (processed goods)
Ghana (via GEPA) to the ECOWAS Commission
ECOWAS Certificate of Community Origin (GNCCI) or invoice declaration
Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI); Ghana Customs
Free-zone enterprises only: domestic sales capped at 30% of production
Ghana Free Zones Authority; Ghana Revenue Authority (Customs)
Free-zone enterprises only: AfCFTA treatment of free-zone goods
AfCFTA Secretariat; GRA Customs; Ghana Free Zones Authority
“If it applies” items depend on how you sell, for example as organic or under a preferential tariff. See all 9 requirements →
Sesame → ECOWAS
HS 1207.40 · 9 REQUIREMENTS
Community origin: wholly obtained or sufficiently processed
ECOWAS Commission (rules); Ghana Customs (verification)
Direct transport and destination import rules
Destination Member State customs; ETLS focal points
ETLS or AfCFTA: which preference applies
ECOWAS Commission; AfCFTA Secretariat
Free-zone enterprises only: free-zone goods cannot claim ETLS origin
ECOWAS Commission
ETLS enterprise and product approval (processed goods)
Ghana (via GEPA) to the ECOWAS Commission
ECOWAS Certificate of Community Origin (GNCCI) or invoice declaration
Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI); Ghana Customs
Free-zone enterprises only: domestic sales capped at 30% of production
Ghana Free Zones Authority; Ghana Revenue Authority (Customs)
Free-zone enterprises only: AfCFTA treatment of free-zone goods
AfCFTA Secretariat; GRA Customs; Ghana Free Zones Authority
“If it applies” items depend on how you sell, for example as organic or under a preferential tariff. See all 9 requirements →
🌍 ECOWAS rules we track
How Passmark gets you ECOWAS-ready
01
Check
Pick your product. See every ECOWAS requirement and which you already meet.
02
Fix
Upload documents and collect plot data on a phone. We flag what is missing or expiring.
03
Prove
Get a seal for your product and ECOWAS. Your buyer checks it, and every export pack, in seconds.