Serving customers in Ghana offers opportunity for ecommerce businesses across markets, from electronics to health and beauty.
But to serve customers in Ghana, you will need a solid shipping strategy to make it worthwhile. Fortunately, shipping from the US to Ghana isn’t as costly and complicated as you might think.
This guide provides information on how to ship a package from the US to Ghana, plus tips on how ecommerce brands can better plan international shipping logistics with ShipBob.
Cost & delivery speeds for shipping to Ghana from the US
When a customer wants to order and ship something that they love from the USA, they are conscious about how much it will cost them.
If the shipping costs are too high, they will look for local alternatives, especially if the shipping timeline is too long.
This section will help you better understand how the top four leading couriers price their shipment methods:
| Service | Price* | Delivery Time | |
| USPS | Priority Mail Express International | $89.75 | 3-5 business days |
| USPS | Priority Mail International | $68.95 | 11-21 business days |
| UPS | Worldwide Saver | $80.72 | 3-4 business days |
| UPS | Worldwide Expedited | $66.73 | 2-5 business days |
| DHL | One-Time Shipment | $105.79 | 6-10 business days |
| FedEx | International Priority | $205.78 | 1-3 business days |
| FedEx | International Economy | $197.73 | 2-5 business days |
Note: We calculated the following rates using each courier’s pricing calculators for a consistent example of a 2.2 lbs package in January 2022. Exact prices are subject to change. These are general options for consumers’ shipping orders.
ShipBob’s exact rates for customers will vary as we charge an all-in “total fulfilment cost“ that includes picking, packing, and shipping, among other factors. To know what ShipBob offers when shipping to other countries like Ghana, please request a quote here.
*It is important to mention that USPS offers flat-rate shipping to Ghana range from $40.15 to $111.35 for delivery within 6 to 10 days.
How to choose a shipping courier
Every ecommerce business has unique shipping needs. Some like to promise next-day delivery, while others prioritise eco-friendly shipping practices. Some businesses are also keen to keep fulfilment costs low and pass on the savings to their customers.
So there is no one-size-fits-all option when it comes to choosing a courier.
There are so many shipping couriers in the market. But when shipping to Ghana, do you know which one of them will give you the best rates and most convenient fulfilment services?
To find out, here are some of the key features of each of the top four couriers:
Couriers | Pros | Cons |
| USPS |
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| FedEx |
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| UPS |
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| DHL |
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Shipping to Ghana from the US with USPS
Over 46% of the world’s mail is sent by the USPS. That’s the sort of trust that the courier inspires for domestic and international shipping. However, though it’s the most cost-effective courier, USPS lacks sophisticated order tracking for international shipments.
But no matter how heavy or large the package, USPS offers the best rates to ship orders to Ghana.
When to use USPS to ship from the US to Ghana
If you want to keep your shipping costs low then USPS offers some of the most affordable rates in the business. When shipping heavy goods to Ghana, you can use its flat-rate shipping option.
Additionally, what is great about this courier is that it does not levy any extra fees or surcharges.
Shipping to Ghana from the US with UPS
United Postal Service (UPS) is touted to be one of the world’s largest shipping couriers. Founded in 1907, This Fortune 500 company employs 495,000+ staff members and delivers parcels to 220+ countries.
UPS’s 24/7 international customer helpline, free customs support, and timely delivery are all reasons to trust it with your shipments to Ghana.
When to use UPS to ship from the US to Ghana
This Atlanta-based courier is great for retailers that are particular about accurate last mile tracking and reliable order delivery. Notably, it has a significant US-wide presence. On the flip side, it does charge a lot more in shipping fees than other established players.
Shipping to Ghana from the US with FedEx
FedEx offers a wide footprint across the US. Of the 220 countries it ships to internationally, Ghana is also one. It is well-known as one of the first couriers to offer overnight delivery options.
There are helpful options provided by FedEx such as the International Shipping Assist tool, which simplifies shipping needs for businesses that engage regularly.
When to use FedEx to ship from the US to Ghana
If you need to send orders in bulk to Ghana, with FedEx’s bulk shipping option you can avail great discounts. Also enjoy customer care support and accurate shipment tracking with this courier.
Shipping to Ghana from the US with DHL
DHL is an international shipping company, headquartered in Germany. It is a very reliable courier that is driven to reduce carbon emissions in shipping operations.
This German courier is also committed to green logistics and is environmentally conscious.
When to use DHL to ship from the US to Ghana
Enjoy super-fast and reliable international order fulfilment, shipment insurance, and door-to-door parcel delivery with DHL.
However, DHL’s on-time shipping services tend to be a lot more expensive than that of competition.
Duties & taxes when shipping to Ghana from the US
Are you ready to import goods from the US to Ghana? Then, be mindful of the fact that you will have to pay import taxes and customs duty at the port of entry.
The Harmonized System is used to categorize imports and assign import duty codes accordingly. Then, based on the cost, insurance, and freight value of the shipment, the duty is levied.
| Custom Duty % | Description |
| 20% | Bags and luggage |
| 20% | Computers and laptops |
| 20% | Fashion items |
| 20% | Home decor |
Note: If the declared value of your shipment is greater than $5, you are also liable to pay an import tax of 15%.
Ghana customs information
The Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) is Ghana’s agency that handles the export and import procedures and regulations.
This body is tasked with collecting import and excise duties and enforcing the import restrictions and prohibitions.
To know more about how to ship goods into the country, here is a link to Ghana’s official customs department’s website.
Prohibited items when shipping to Ghana
Before you decide to grow your retail footprint to Ghana, you need to make sure that there are no prohibitions or restrictions by the customs authorities on your merchandise entering the country.
Here is a list of a few items that are discouraged from being imported into the country:
Items you can’t ship to Ghana from the US |
| Coins, banknotes, paper money, traveler’s checks |
| Platinum, gold, or silver (manufactured or not), precious stones, and jewelry |
| Firearms and articles resembling deadly weapons |
| Indecent of obscene materials |
| Radioactive materials |
| Live animals |
| Fish and meat products that are not properly processed |
| Offensive weapons |
What ecommerce businesses need to know about shipping to Ghana
Here are some important considerations to keep in mind when shipping from the US to Ghana.
1. Take steps to tackle online fraud and build trust with shoppers
Ghana’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) receives an overwhelming number of reports of online fraud, which leaves the country’s people wary of ecommerce transactions.
To reduce their feelings of mistrust, you must build a highly encrypted and secure website, process payments via reliable payment partners, and maintain the privacy of shoppers’ data.
2. Offer multiple means of payment
Customers are opting for cash on delivery less than usual, but it still retains the position of most popular means of ecommerce payment in Ghana.
Meanwhile, usage of e-wallets, bank transfers, and direct debit have grown between 2017 and 2022. To make the payment process convenient, be sure to offer all these options (along with card payment) to customers on your ecommerce portal.
3. Harness social media to engage customers
About 20.2% of population are on social media.
If you want to capture the interest of this segment of the population, then it is important to build a strong, engaging, and localised social media presence.
4. Use ShipBob’s 3PL services
Apart from managing the product, marketing, and sales, you also have quite the responsibility of ensuring that orders reach your customers in Ghana on time. That’s a lot of work.
3PLs like ShipBob that specialize in international shipping help make cross-border shipping more affordable and less complex. Selling internationally can be challenging, time-consuming, and costly. But with ShipBob, you’re given everything you need to serve customers across the globe while saving time on logistics.
Partner with ShipBob, an international 3PL
ShipBob’s omnichannel fulfilment solution helps you scale your business and serve more customers across the globe.
ShipBob not only take care of picking, packing, and shipping your orders to Ghana, we also offer upfront fulfilment costs that include customs, duties, and additional taxes.
By partnering with ShipBob, you eliminate the need to manage retail fulfilment, logistics operations, and hire labour.
Working with ShipBob can actually turn logistics and warehousing into a revenue driver because you can increase sales and offer the shipping options, transit times, and delivery speeds that customers want.
The best part about partnering with ShipBob is you get time back to focus on more strategic initiatives, such as customer service and marketing.
“There’s a pair of Ombraz on every continent, so international shipping is very important to us — not only in terms of costs but also the customer experience. When I found out ShipBob was expanding, I knew we wanted to expand our physical footprint with them. This would offer us the ability to reduce taxes and tariffs that come with international shipping.
The process of getting inventory sent to ShipBob’s fulfilment centre location was very streamlined. ShipBob has helped us extensively throughout the process and we look forward to accelerating our growth outside of North America.”
Nikolai Paloni, Co-Founder of Ombraz Sunglasses
Ready to start shipping to Ghana from the US? Get started with ShipBob.
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Shipping to Ghana FAQs
Here are answers to the top questions about shipping from the United States to Ghana.
What’s the cheapest way to ship to Ghana from the US?
USPS Priority Mail International offers some of the cheapest services to ship your orders from the US to Ghana.
What’s the cheapest way to ship large packages to Ghana from the US?
Lage and heavy orders are most affordably shipped from the US to Ghana with USPS’ fixed-rate services. This ensures that no matter what the weight of the order, the shipping tariff remains the same for parcels of certain dimensions.
What’s the fastest way to ship a package to Ghana from the US?
USPS GXG Envelopes and FedEx International Priority are two options that ensure that your goods reach Ghana in 1 to 3 business days.
Do I have to pay customs duties and fees when shipping to Ghana from the US?
Goods imported into Ghana attract a VAT of 16% and an import duty ranging between 0% and 25%.
What’s the easiest way to ship something to Ghana from the US?
In terms of parcel drop-offs, the most convenient courier is USPS. And in terms of the reliability of tracking and customer care, the best options are UPS and FedEx.
