Ghana Type Approval Summary
Ghana is one of the most dynamic telecommunications markets in Sub-Saharan Africa. According to DataReportal, it has a high adoption rate, with a teledensity of over 115%–119% and more than 41–42 million voice subscriptions and tens of millions of data subscriptions.
In terms of internet penetration, with a land area of approximately 239,567 km² and a population of over 35 million, internet users in Ghana have reached nearly 75% over the past decade. This places it above the average for many developing countries in Africa, which is only around 38%.
These figures are certainly attractive to manufacturers and importers looking to market their telecommunications devices in Ghana. The first step to expanding market access in this country is understanding the applicable compliance requirements.
This compliance requirement is known as “NCA Type Approval.” NCA stands for the National Communications Authority, the legal body mandated to license and regulate electronic communications services in Ghana.
The NCA was established under Act 524 in December 1996. That law was later superseded by the National Communications Authority Act, 2008 (Act 769).
Pursuant to this law, within the scope of type approval, the NCA is responsible for everything from establishing technical regulations and verifying each submitted device to issuing certificates. Furthermore, this authority conducts market surveillance to ensure that all telecommunications products circulating in Ghana are legally compliant.
Obtaining an NCA type approval certificate is a mandatory requirement that must be met by every manufacturer and importer wishing to market their telecommunications devices in Ghana. This ensures that global marketing in this most dynamic market in Africa can proceed smoothly.
Who Can Be an Applicant?
- Local representative
- Required
Type approval certification in Ghana must generally be applied for by manufacturers of electronic communications equipment, regardless of their location. However, foreign manufacturers must submit their type approval applications through an authorized representative or local agent.
Then, the authorized representative or local agent will submit the application for type approval by providing all required technical documentation and a letter of authorization from the manufacturer. However, the certificate can be issued directly in the manufacturer’s name.
Application Method
- In-country testing
- No
- Paperwork only
- Yes
The type approval process in Ghana is based on a paperwork or document evaluation method. Basically, there is no mandatory local testing.
An applicant can apply the application by submitting a test report from an international laboratory accepted by NCA and other required documents. The complete list of required documents for certification in Ghana is based on ISO/IEC standards.
The type approval process in Ghana is based on European and U.S. standards. Equipment to be certified must meet the requirements set forth by the ETSI (EU) or FCC (U.S.) standards, as evidenced by the presence of a CE or FCC mark.
However, the authorities also maintain a list of accredited laboratories recognized for this process. For FCC certification, there are 20 testing laboratories—all located in the U.S.—that can be used. For the CE mark, there are 24 testing laboratories available, located in several countries such as the USA, the UK, Germany, Japan, and Brazil.
In addition to submitting test results from an NCA-approved laboratory, applicants may also apply for Recognized Type Approval. This option is available by submitting Declarations of Conformity (DoC) from countries recognized by Ghana.
Recognized Type Approval
NCA recognizes the Type Approval results issued by national authorities for this certification process. There are two recognized countries: IMDA (Singapore) and IC (Canada). Certificates or Declarations of Conformity (DoC) issued by these authorities following their inspections may be used to submit an application.
The applicant must include proof of the certificate or Declaration of Conformity. The authority may request that the relevant national authority provide supporting evidence that the product has been certified. In addition, all other required documents must still be included.
Local Testing
Generally, there is no local testing for type approval certification in Ghana. However, the authority reserves the right to request re-testing at a local laboratory for further inspection of the equipment during this process. In this case, the applicant needs to send a sample for testing. They will also be responsible for all laboratory or other costs incurred.
Sample Requirements
If the authority requests local testing for further inspection, the applicant needs to send a sample. In this case, one normal sample shall be included in the application.
Document Requirements
Here are the document requirements:
- Application Form
- Declaration of conformity
- General description of equipment
- Drawings and schemes of components, subassemblies, circuits
- A list of the adopted standards and/or other relevant technical specifications
- Test Reports issued by accredited Testing Laboratories recognized by the Authority
- Copy of the declaration of conformity/certificate from approval body (If Any)
Once all documents are complete, submit the application through the online portal provided by the NCA.
Submission process
- Submission
- Online
An application for type approval in Ghana must be made using the Authority’s Type Approval Management System accessible at the NCA's website. The authority reserves the right to reject the application where the Authority is not satisfied with any aspect of the application. However, the applicant may address the non-compliance and submit a new application for type approval. In this case, applicant must pay the type approval application fee agian.
Lead Time of Certification
- Lead time
- 15 days
Applications for type approval certification are typically processed within 15 business days after the NCA receives all required documents. Once approved, you will need to wait another 15 days for the authority to issue the type approval certificate to the applicant and record it in the type approval register.
Validity Period
- Validity
- Permanent
Type approval certificates in Ghana have no expiration date, as long as no modifications are made to the radio frequency (RF) specifications. If any modifications are made that affect the information recorded in the Type Approval Register, Certificate of Conformity, or Declaration of Conformity, a new application for type approval must be submitted.
Changes that require recertification:
- Manufacturer’s brand
- Product name
- Model number
- Function
Changes that do not require recertification are generally cosmetic in nature and do not affect the network.
Label Requirements for Ghana Type Approval
- Product label
- Required
- Approval mark
- Required
- E-labeling
- Allowed
All communications equipment that have been type approval certificate shall have an approved NCA mark. The mark shall be affixed before the equipment is made available on the Ghanaian market.
NCA Marking
The mark must be affixed on the packaging and/or in the user manual. Unless for reasons of size or other design features the mark cannot be marked, it is mandatory to affix the label on the product package and the user documentation.
Where it is shown that a mark permanently affixed to the outside of the equipment is not desirable or is not feasible, an alternative method of displaying the required mark may be used if approved by the Authority in writing. The proposed alternative method of marking and the justification for its use must accompany the application for the Type Approval of the concerned equipment.
More on Labeling
The markings can be etched by software (E-Marking) accessible and visible when device is powered. This is recommended for devices with small form factor.
Certificate Example
- Issued under
- National Communications Authority (NCA)
- Certificate
- NCA Type Approval
- Validity
- Permanent
- Lead time
- 15 days
Alternative Country Names
Gana, Гана, ガーナ, 가나, GH
Rules by Technology
Allowed, approval required
- Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz
- Wi-Fi 5 GHz
- Wi-Fi 6E (6 GHz)
- Wi-Fi 7
- Bluetooth Classic
- Bluetooth Low Energy
- NFC
- RFID
- UWB
- Zigbee
- Thread
- Z-Wave
- DECT
- 2G/3G
- 4G LTE
- 5G NR
- NB-IoT
- LTE-M
- LoRa / LoRaWAN
- Sigfox
- Automotive radar (77 GHz)
- Short-range radar (24 / 60 GHz)
- GNSS (GPS)
- Satellite communication
- Wireless charging (Qi)
- PMR / Walkie-talkie
- Amateur radio
- Passive Optical Network (PON)
- Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM)
- Coaxial Cable
- ISDN
- Ethernet
- VoIP
- IPv6
- Power Line Carrier
- Microwave Link
- Free Space Optics
- Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB)
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