Ghana CTN Certificate

Ghana’s cargo tracking note goes by three names on the same document. CTN (Cargo Tracking Note) is the regional term, ECTN (Electronic Cargo Tracking Note) is what the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning notice calls it, and SPN (Smart Port Note) is the name the Ghana Shippers Authority uses. They refer to one declaration, filed at the port of loading, covering one Bill of Lading.

SCK Representation is an authorized ECTN, BESC, CTN and cargo tracking note provider for shipments to African countries, filing from Istanbul since 2001.

Official Notice Regarding The ECTN From The Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MOFEP)

• Each Bill of Lading must be covered by one ECTN/SPN.

• Shipping lines must insert the unique ECTN/SPN number in the Bill of Lading and Cargo Manifest.

• Any cargo without a valid ECTN/SPN will not be cleared through the local Customs until clearance of fines and presentation of a valid ECTN/SPN is done.

Starting February 1, 2026, all shipments to Ghana, including those in transit, are required to obtain the mandatory ECTN/SPN from the ports of loading.

Required documents for the Ghana CTN / SPN

A draft Bill of Lading is enough to open the file. Send PDF copies to sck@scktr.com — hard copies are not required.

How the Ghana CTN / SPN is issued

1. Send the documents. PDF copies by email; a draft Bill of Lading is enough to start.
2. Pre-screen. We check value, weight, container and party details against each other. Mismatches between documents are what get declarations refused, and they are cheaper to fix before filing.
3. Draft issued. Normally the same working day once the file is complete and consistent.
4. Validation. The draft goes for approval. Certificates not approved within five days of issue are treated as void by Ghana and a new number has to be drawn, so the window is tracked from the day the draft is released.
5. Number onto the Bill of Lading. The unique SPN number is inserted in the Bill of Lading and the Cargo Manifest before the cargo is manifested at destination.

When to apply

Apply as soon as the Bill of Lading details are settled and before the vessel loads. The declaration is obtained at the port of loading, not at destination, so a shipment that sails without one cannot be regularised at sea.

How long a Ghana CTN / SPN is valid

One validated ECTN/SPN covers one Bill of Lading. It is not transferable between shipments, and a split or reissued Bill of Lading needs its own number.

Who files the Ghana CTN / SPN

The shipper, exporter or freight forwarder at the port of loading. The Ghana Shippers Authority notice states the service charge is borne by the exporter in the country of origin, not by the Ghanaian importer or consignee.

What happens if cargo arrives without one

Cargo without a valid ECTN/SPN is not cleared through Ghanaian customs until the fines are settled and a valid ECTN/SPN is presented. The delay is the expensive part: storage and demurrage accrue at Tema or Takoradi while the file is regularised.

What a Ghana CTN / SPN costs

Two parts. The tariff set by the issuing authority, which varies with cargo type, container count and tonnage, and our fee for preparing, filing and following the declaration through validation. We quote both as one figure once we have seen the shipment details — email sck@scktr.com. Fees are non-refundable once the process has been initiated.

Which Ghanaian ports it covers

Tema and Takoradi, Ghana’s two seaports, and transit cargo discharged there for onward carriage.

Cargo in transit through Ghana

Cargo discharged at Tema or Takoradi and moving on to a landlocked destination is declared for its final destination as well. Shipments transiting Ghana to Burkina Faso currently need only the Burkina Faso ECTN.

Other names for the Ghana CTN

CTN, ECTN, SPN and Smart Port Note all describe this document. Elsewhere in West Africa the same declaration is called a BESC in Benin, a BSC in Ivory Coast and a CTN in Liberia and the Gambia.

Ghana ECTN certificate — what it is

An ECTN certificate is a pre-loading declaration required on imports to a number of African countries. It carries the cargo detail, the country of origin, the destination and the transport particulars, so the destination customs administration can see the shipment before it arrives.

Regulations are subject to change, we recommend confirming the latest country-specific requirements with our team via email.

Verified Compliance Review

This content is reviewed to ensure accuracy and consistency with ECTN (CTN, BESC, BSC, BIETC, FERI, ACID, ACD) procedures, based on current operational practices and applicable regulatory frameworks at the time of the last update.