Update, October 9, 2026: On October 5, 2026 the Ghana Standards Authority suspended the pre-shipment inspection of imported used vehicles that was due to start on October 1 under GS 4510, and said a new date will be announced. Where this article mentions the inspection or the Certificate of Conformity, treat that step as on hold for now. Reports on the used-vehicle age limit also conflict. Check the current rules with us on WhatsApp at +1 (551) 800-2125 before you buy or ship a vehicle.
This guide covers the New York-to-Ghana shipping route specifically. For the full USA-to-Ghana overview including pickup from other states, a method comparison table, and all service types, see the Shipping from USA to Ghana guide.
Shipping from New York to Ghana: The Short Answer
To ship from New York to Ghana, you choose a method (barrel, boxes, a shared or full container, or a vehicle), book a door pickup, and your shipper handles ocean freight to Tema Port, customs clearance and delivery. With Guldstreet Shipping, a 55-gallon barrel to Ghana starts at $190, and that price includes door pickup across New York City, New Jersey and Philadelphia, ocean freight to Tema, customs clearance at Tema, Ghana import duties on personal effects, and door delivery in Accra and Tema. Cars, containers and heavy equipment are quoted per job in writing.
Last verified: October 4, 2026. Customs rules, fees and port procedures change. Confirm current requirements with the Ghana Revenue Authority, the relevant Ghanaian agency and a licensed customs house agent before you ship. Sources are listed at the end of this guide.
Compare Your Shipping Options from New York to Ghana
| Method | Best for | Starting price | Arrives at | Included | Not included |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barrel (55, 65 or 75-77 gallon) | Clothing, food, household goods for family | $190 / $220 / $240 | Door in Accra or Tema | Pickup, ocean freight, Tema clearance, duties on personal effects, Accra and Tema delivery | Delivery to other cities (quoted before booking); duties on commercial goods |
| Boxes, totes and suitcases | Smaller loads and items that do not fit a barrel | From $60 per item | Door in Accra or Tema | Same as barrels | Same as barrels |
| Shared container (LCL) | Furniture, appliances, part-household moves | Quoted per job | Tema | As stated on your written quote | As stated on your written quote |
| Full container (FCL, 20 or 40 ft) | Full household moves and business cargo | Quoted per job | Tema | As stated on your written quote | Ghana duties and taxes unless stated |
| Vehicles (RoRo or container) | Cars, SUVs, pickups and commercial trucks | From $1,400 | Tema | As stated on your written quote | Ghana duties and taxes, DVLA registration |
Every price above is a starting price for Ghana. Your final price is confirmed in a written quote and Shipping Agreement before pickup. See the full shipping rates or get a starting figure in seconds with the free price estimator.
Option 1: Barrel Shipping
Barrels are the most popular way for families in New York to send goods home. You pack a 55-gallon, 65-gallon or 75-77-gallon barrel at home, we pick it up, and it travels with other customers' barrels in a shared container to Tema. Barrels are sturdy, lockable and easy to track. For packing advice, sizes and what fits, read our complete barrel shipping guide, or book directly through our barrel shipping service.
Option 2: Boxes, Totes and Suitcases
For loads that do not justify a barrel, or items that will not fit in one, we ship boxes, totes, suitcases and bags of rice on the same consolidated service. Medium boxes start at $75, large boxes and tote bags at $100, and suitcases at $60 to Ghana.
Option 3: Shared and Full Containers
When people search for a "shipping container to Ghana," they usually mean one of two things. In a shared container (LCL), your furniture, appliances and boxes share a container with other cargo and you pay for the space you use. In a full container (FCL), you book the whole 20-foot or 40-foot container, which makes sense for a full household move or business inventory. Container shipments are quoted per job, because the price depends on volume, contents and the season. For business cargo, see our commercial freight service and the 2026 guide for business importers.
Option 4: Cars, Trucks and Heavy Equipment
We ship cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, commercial trucks and heavy equipment from New York and New Jersey to Tema, by roll-on, roll-off (RoRo) vessel or in containers. From October 1, 2026, every used vehicle must pass a pre-shipment conformity assessment under Ghana Standard GS 4510, vehicles more than 15 years old may not be imported, and flood-damaged, fire-damaged and rebuilt vehicles are barred. On the U.S. side, the title and export documents must be presented to U.S. Customs and Border Protection at least 72 hours before export. See our vehicle shipping service and our page for cars, heavy equipment and containers.
How the New York to Ghana Route Works
- Pickup. We collect from your door anywhere in New York City, New Jersey or Philadelphia, weigh and photograph each item, and give you a reference number.
- Documentation. We prepare the bill of lading and export paperwork, including the export filing and title submission for vehicles.
- Port of New York and New Jersey. Cargo is loaded into a consolidated container or onto a RoRo vessel at Port Newark-Elizabeth.
- Ocean crossing to Tema. Vessels call at other West African ports on the way. We confirm the vessel and estimated arrival when your cargo sails.
- Customs at Tema. Cargo is declared on ICUMS, Ghana's customs system, and cleared by a licensed customs house agent.
- Delivery. Barrels and boxes are delivered to your recipient's door in Accra and Tema. Delivery to other cities is quoted before booking.
Where We Pick Up in New York and Nearby
- Bronx: Fordham, Mott Haven, Hunts Point, Wakefield, Co-op City, Pelham Bay. See barrel shipping from the Bronx.
- Brooklyn: Flatbush, Crown Heights, East New York, Canarsie, Brownsville. See barrel shipping from Brooklyn.
- Queens: Jamaica, Laurelton, Springfield Gardens, Hollis, St. Albans. See barrel shipping from Queens.
- Manhattan and Staten Island: Harlem, Washington Heights, Inwood and all of Staten Island.
- New Jersey: Newark, Irvington, East Orange, Jersey City, Paterson, Trenton. See Newark and Jersey City.
- Philadelphia: scheduled pickups. See barrel shipping from Philadelphia.
- Washington, DC and Delaware: vehicles, containers and large loads by arrangement.
Documents You Need
| Shipment | What you need |
|---|---|
| Every shipment | Valid photo ID; detailed packing list with descriptions, quantities and values; recipient's full name, Ghana address and phone number |
| Ghana side | Recipient or importer registered with the Ghana Shippers' Authority (required for ICUMS processing); Ghana Card or TIN |
| Relocating to Ghana | Passengers Unaccompanied Baggage Declaration (PUBD), filed at the airport on arrival or within 48 hours; valued inventory signed and dated; passport |
| Vehicles | Original title or lienholder authorization; bill of sale; ID; GS 4510 Certificate of Conformity; export filing prepared by your shipper |
| Commercial goods | Commercial invoice, packing list, Import Declaration Form and any FDA or Ghana Standards Authority permits |
Ghana Customs: What to Know Before You Pack
Genuinely used personal effects are treated differently from new or commercial goods. Our barrel price includes Ghana import duties on personal effects. New goods in quantity, goods for resale and commercial shipments attract duty and VAT, which Ghana's 2026 VAT reform set at a single effective rate of 20% on top of import duty. Used refrigerators, used air conditioners and used deep freezers are banned, and items such as firearms, ammunition, explosives, narcotics, hazardous materials and counterfeit goods are prohibited. Write precise descriptions on your packing list: vague entries like "household items" invite a physical inspection. Read more in our guide to Ghana customs and duties and our complete 2026 guide for families moving to Ghana.
How Our Pricing Works
- Included in barrel and box prices to Ghana: door pickup, ocean freight to Tema, customs clearance at Tema, Ghana import duties on personal effects, and door delivery in Accra and Tema.
- Quoted separately before booking: delivery to other Ghana cities, containers, vehicles and heavy equipment.
- Not included: duties and taxes on new or commercial goods, unless your quote says otherwise.
- In writing: every booking comes with a written quote and a Shipping Agreement you can review and accept online. No deposit is needed: pay in full before pickup, online or by Cash App or cash to the driver.
Shipping for the Holidays
October to December is the busiest season on the New York to Ghana route. For Christmas 2026, book your pickup by November 28 for New York City and New Jersey pickups, or November 25 for Philadelphia. Book early: vessels fill up and cutoffs do not move. See the Christmas barrel shipping page for details.
How to Compare Ghana Shipping Companies in New York
- Is the price all-in? Ask what the barrel price includes: pickup, freight, clearance, duties and delivery. Get it in writing.
- Do they come to your door? Ask about pickup areas and whether pickup is free.
- Will you get a written agreement? A written quote and agreement protect you if something goes wrong.
- Who handles the Ghana side? Shipping is half the journey. Ask who clears your cargo at Tema and who delivers it.
- Are they licensed? Ask for the company's Federal Maritime Commission license number.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to ship a barrel from New York to Ghana?
A 55-gallon barrel starts at $190, a 65-gallon barrel at $220 and a 75-77-gallon jumbo barrel at $240, including door pickup in New York City, New Jersey and Philadelphia, ocean freight, Tema clearance, duties on personal effects and door delivery in Accra and Tema.
How do I ship a box from New York to Ghana?
Book a pickup online or on WhatsApp. We collect boxes, totes and suitcases with barrels on the same consolidated service, from $60 per item.
Can I ship a car from New York to Ghana?
Yes. Vehicles start at $1,400 and are quoted per job. Under Ghana's 2026 rules, the car must be 15 years old or newer, pass a GS 4510 pre-shipment inspection, and have a clean title before export.
Can I track my shipment?
Yes. Every shipment gets a reference number, and we confirm the vessel and estimated arrival when your cargo sails, then update you on arrival at Tema and clearance.
Do you deliver outside Accra and Tema?
Yes. Delivery to Kumasi, Takoradi and other cities is quoted before you book.
Sources
- Ghana Revenue Authority, Customs: passengers' obligations and the PUBD (gra.gov.gh)
- Ghana Shippers' Authority, mandatory shipper registration on ICUMS under Act 1122 (shippers.org.gh)
- Ghana Standards Authority, EasyPASS and GS 4510 vehicle conformity (gsa.gov.gh)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Exporting a Motor Vehicle (cbp.gov)
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, 19 CFR Part 192 (ecfr.gov)
Start Your Shipment to Ghana
Call Guldstreet Shipping at +1 (551) 800-2125, message us on WhatsApp, or request a written quote. We pick up across New York City, New Jersey and Philadelphia, and handle vehicles, containers and heavy equipment from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington, DC and Delaware.