(Bloomberg) -- Ghana banned the importation of cars older than 10 years to encourage international companies including Volkswagen AG and Nissan Motor Co. to set up local plants in the West African country.

The new law also provides import-duty rebates for companies that manufacture or assemble cars in Ghana, according to the act of parliament obtained Thursday by Bloomberg. The embargo will take effect six months after the manufacturing or assembling of new vehicles in Ghana begin under a special government program meant to draw investment.

Volkswagen, Nissan, Toyota Motor Corp., Suzuki Motor Corp. and Renault SA are among automakers weighing the local assembly of vehicles in a country where used cars make up about 70% of vehicle imports. Ghana is seeking to become a car-manufacturing hub for West Africa, a region with more than 380 million people.

VW, Nissan chase African Market where car loans are rare

The import restrictions could cost the government as much as $143 million in customs revenue in the first three years after implementation, according to parliamentary documents. Used-car sellers offer more affordable deals in a country where auto loans are rare.

The law, signed by President Nana Akufo-Addo on April 30, also bans the importation of cars which have been involved in accidents, which dealers bring in and repair to provide even cheaper options to consumers. The ban on these will take effect from October, regardless of their date of manufacture.

©2020 Bloomberg L.P.

Na this matter we go soon settle for Ghana. How many of them can afford. 2009-2020 models only

Ghanaians should get ready to buy vehicles older than 10 years at ridiculously expensive prices.

Learn from Nigeria about how not to run a country. Nigeria did this and today the money that would get you a brand new, 2018 SUV can only afford a fairly used 2006 one

The policy will not boost local automobile manufacturing in any way. You Ghanians would end up importing Chinese replicas of popular auto brands ta have overall low safety standards. Only your government would be able to afford the now ridiculously priced brand new vehicles that they have deprived the average citizen from purchasing.