#1 GLOBAL PROVIDER OF CARGO TRACKING NOTES

Get Your Draft Ghana SPN Issued - In Just a Few Hours

Join 3,200+ shippers and freight forwarders using AfricaCTN to manage CTNs, save time and ensure compliance. We track your shipment daily, ensuring compliance & on-time validation.
ghana spn certificate

Why AfricaCTN is the Best Choice

Get Your Ghana SPN in 24-48 Hours. We have built the most trusted CTN business by putting shippers and freight forwarders success first.

Authorized Agent

Work with an officially authorized CTN agent — one of fewer than 20 worldwide.

Rapid Service

Our team responds to emails within two hours to keep your CTN moving without delays.

Always on Time

We track your shipment daily to ensure your CTN is validated on time.

Our 5 Star Google Reviews

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Tracey
Chris and team at Africa CTN deserve 10 Stars. They are knowledgeable, professional and always courteous. Questions are answered in a timely manner as well as certificate processing. Thanks for years of great service!
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Petr
Excellent and very fast service for competitive rates
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Mahamadou
Very helpfull, quick communication
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Ged
Fast friendly we love the personal service and they have an office in Africa. We highly recommend there services.

How to Get a Ghana SPN

Watch this quick overview to understand the process of obtaining an electronic cargo tracking note

5-Step Process

Follow these simple steps to complete your Ghana SPN Certificate (Cargo Tracking Note) application and receive your validated certificate.

Submit your Documents

Gather all required shipping documents, including your Bill of Lading, Commercial Invoice, and Export Declaration, and submit them to AfricaCTN.

2

Receive Draft ECTN and Invoice

Our team will review our documents and generate your draft ECTN and invoice.

3

Approve the Draft

Review all details on the draft ECTN carefully, let us know if it is approved or any further changes needed.

4

Pay the Invoice

Your draft ECTN looks good, the next step it to pay the invoice so validation can begin.

5

Receive your Final Validation

Once all steps are complete, your final validated ECTN will be delivered straight to your inbox, no hard copy required.

Required Documents

Before applying for your SPN certificate (Smart Port Note) , you’ll need to prepare several required documents. These are required by GSA (Ghana Shippers’ Authority) for CTN issuance, ensuring your cargo complies with the specific requirements set by the ministry of finance.

Bill of Lading (BL)

Issued by your shipping carrier after booking your shipment.

Commercial Invoice

Provided by you (the exporter). It contains the cost of the goods being shipped.

Freight Invoice

Issued by your shipping carrier after booking your shipment. It contains the cost of the ocean freight (freight value), not required if noted on the commercial invoice.

Export Declaration

Typically prepared by your freight forwarder or shipping carrier, but you’re responsible for ensuring the information matches your invoice and bill of lading.

When is a ECTN Required

In Transit Shipments

If your goods pass through If your goods pass through this country before moving to a neighboring country, you must still obtain the ECTN. Including all transit cargo discharging in Accra and in transit to a neighboring African country. before moving to a neighboring country, you must still obtain a CTN.

ghana spn certificate
how to get a ectn

Important Deadlines

Validation Deadline

Prior to vessel arrival

Document Submission Deadline

All required documents must be submitted to AfricaCTN 3-5 business days prior to the deadline. We can issue the draft certificate with only the BL.

Regulations

Special Requirements

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Related Resources

Explore additional articles that explain required documents, timelines, validation deadlines, and common mistakes for Ghana SPN.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Quick answers to common questions about CTN requirements in African countries.

What is the Ghana SPN?

The SPN (Smart Port Note) is a mandatory document for all shipments discharging in Ghana, regardless of final destination. Ghanaian customs requires that the SPN is obtained for all ports of loading, as per the official notice from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MOFEP). This document is required to prevent delays for the importer at the destination port.

We will generate your draft CTN and invoice the same day we receive it. Once we submit it to the authorities for validation it typically takes 24-48 hours for them to release the final validation.

All exporters, freight forwarders, and shippers importing goods into Ghana are responsible for obtaining the CTN for the consignee’s cargo clearance.
If your shipment arrives in this country without a valid Ghana ECTN (Electronic Cargo Tracking Note), it will not be cleared by customs. The cargo may be held at the port until a valid CTN is issued, leading to significant clearance delays, demurrage and storage fees charged by the port, or possible fines or penalties from the customs authorities. In some cases, your cargo could even be refused entry or returned to the country of origin.

Shipments without a validated CTN may face penalties and delays at port. To avoid this, please apply at least 3-5 business days before the vessel’s estimated arrival date.

No. Each shipment must have its own unique electronic cargo tracking number (ECTN Number).

An ECTN is tied to the specific Bill of Lading, vessel, packing list and cargo details for one shipment only.

If you’re shipping multiple containers under different Bills of Lading, you’ll need to apply for a separate ECTN certificate for each. However, if multiple containers share one Bill of Lading and are part of a single shipment, only one ECTN is required. Contact AfricaCTN for pricing.

Other Countries that Require the CTN

Click on one of the African countries to view detailed requirements and information

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Angola

CNCA / ARCCLA Certificate

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Benin

BESC Certificate

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Cameroon

BESC Certificate

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Chad

ECTN Certificate

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DR Congo

FERI Certificate

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Mali

BESC Certificate