MetEx House, 496a Great West Road, Hounslow, Middlesex, TW5 0TE  ·  Shipping since 1998
0800 096 38 39
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⚓ Sea Freight • Tema, Ghana • Shipping from UK to Ghana Since 1998

Sea Freight to Ghana from the UK

Ship personal effects and household goods from the UK to Ghana by sea freight — LCL to Tema Port (25km from Accra). 4-6 weeks transit. We collect from London, Birmingham, Manchester, and across the UK.

📍 Part of our complete Shipping to Ghana hub — returning-resident relief, customs, costs & every service ›

Personal effects shipping by sea freight from the UK to Ghana

If you’re shipping a large amount to Ghana, sea freight is usually the best value. We ship luggage, boxes and personal effects by sea freight to Ghana, door-to-door (subject to your destination) from anywhere in the UK. Whether it’s several boxes or a full relocation’s worth of belongings, our sea freight service to Ghana covers collection, customs and delivery.

Why sea freight for personal effects to Ghana?

Sea freight is significantly cheaper than air cargo for larger volumes of personal effects and household goods. If you are shipping 10 or more boxes, bags, or any household furniture, sea freight from the UK to Ghana is likely the most economical method — typically 60-80% less expensive than air cargo per cubic metre.

Tema Port is one of West Africa's most efficient container ports — LCL personal effects shipments from the UK to Ghana are a well-established corridor. The Ghanaian diaspora in London's South East, Birmingham, and Manchester generates consistent demand.

Sea freight to Ghana — key facts

  • Transit time: 4-6 weeks from UK to Tema Port
  • Main entry port: Tema Port — Ghana's main deep-water container port, 25km east of Accra
  • Delivery: Consignee or authorised agent must collect at Tema Port with passport and original Bill of Lading.
  • Customs authority: Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) Customs Division — personal effects for returning Ghanaian nationals may qualify for duty-free import under the Returning Residents scheme.

Air cargo alternative

For smaller volumes or urgent shipments, air cargo from the UK to Ghana takes 5-8 working days. Compare air vs sea →

LCL shared container sea freight to Ghana

What is LCL sea freight?

LCL (Less than Container Load) means your personal effects are consolidated with other shippers' cargo in a shared container — you pay only for the cubic metres your goods occupy. LCL is the standard sea freight method for personal effects shipments to Ghana for most individuals and families.

As a rough guide: a standard removal box = approximately 0.09 CBM. 30 boxes = approximately 2.7 CBM. A typical family's personal effects consignment of 30 boxes would be a LCL shipment.

LCL vs air cargo — when to choose

  • Choose LCL sea freight — 10+ boxes of personal effects, household furniture, larger family shipments, non-urgent timeline
  • Choose air cargo — fewer than 10 bags/boxes, urgent shipments, smaller volumes where faster transit justifies higher cost

Shipping personal luggage to Ghana by sea?

The LCL and CBM pricing above applies to bulk and groupage shipments — multiple boxes and household goods consolidated in a shared container. If you are sending one or two individual bags or suitcases door-to-door (subject to your destination) rather than a bulk consignment, these are priced differently, using cubic feet (CUFT) rather than cubic metres, charged on whichever is greater between actual weight and the space occupied.

See our sea freight personal effects guide for a full explanation of the CUFT method, including a worked example. Rates vary by route and are confirmed at the time of your quote — contact us on 0800 096 38 39 or WhatsApp for an accurate price for your luggage.

UK collection areas for sea freight to Ghana

We collect from homes across the UK for sea freight personal effects shipments to Ghana. Key UK communities shipping to Ghana:

London (Peckham, Lewisham, Woolwich, Brixton, Tottenham), Birmingham, Manchester

We collect from every UK postcode. Wherever you are in the UK, we come to your door. View all UK collection locations →

Insurance for sea freight to Ghana

Sea freight transit insurance:
  • Owner-packed goods: approximately 5% of declared replacement value
  • Professionally packed goods: approximately 3.5% of declared replacement value

All goods must be declared at true replacement value. We recommend insuring all sea freight personal effects shipments. Ask us about transit insurance at booking.

Useful guides for sea freight to Ghana

Common questions answered

How long does sea freight from the UK to Ghana take?+
Sea freight personal effects from the UK to Ghana typically takes 4-6 weeks from UK to Tema Port. Transit time depends on the shipping line schedule, port congestion, and customs clearance at Tema Port — Ghana's main deep-water container port, 25km east of Accra.
What port does sea freight to Ghana arrive at?+
Sea freight personal effects from the UK to Ghana arrives at Tema Port — Ghana's main deep-water container port, 25km east of Accra. Consignee or authorised agent must collect at Tema Port with passport and original Bill of Lading.
Is LCL sea freight available to Ghana from the UK?+
Yes. LCL (Less than Container Load) sea freight is available for personal effects and household goods from the UK to Ghana. Your goods are consolidated with other shippers in a shared container — you pay only for the cubic metre space your goods occupy, making LCL the most economical option for partial household moves.
Is sea freight or air cargo cheaper for personal effects to Ghana?+
Sea freight is significantly cheaper for larger volumes. For 10 or more boxes of personal effects, LCL sea freight from the UK to Ghana is typically 60-80% less expensive than air cargo per cubic metre. For smaller volumes of 1-5 bags where speed matters, air cargo (5-8 working days) is more practical.
What documents do I need for sea freight personal effects to Ghana?+
You need a detailed packing list of all items with estimated replacement values, a copy of your passport, and your Ghana delivery address. We prepare the Bill of Lading and UK export customs declaration as part of your shipment. Customs authority: Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) Customs Division — personal effects for returning Ghanaian nationals may qualify for duty-free import under the Returning Residents scheme..
How long does sea freight take compared to air freight?+
Sea freight typically takes 4–12 weeks from UK collection to destination port, depending on your destination and sailing dates, compared to 4–10 working days for air freight. Sea freight is significantly cheaper per kg for large volumes — typically 10+ bags, boxes or barrels. For smaller volumes or when you need bags within 2 weeks of moving, air freight is almost always the right choice.
What is the maximum weight per item for sea freight?+
Sea freight accommodates larger and heavier items than air freight. Call 0800 096 38 39 with your specific items and we confirm weight and volume limits. Unlike air freight where we have a 30kg per item standard, sea freight pricing is typically calculated on volume (cubic metres) or weight-volume, whichever is greater.

Ready to ship your luggage from London?

Get a quote in minutes, or call our UK-based team on 0800 096 38 39.

28 years of experience

Why customers choose Excess Luggage Co.

Excess Luggage Co. has been shipping personal effects from the UK since 1998 — over 28 years of experience. Operating from MetEx House, 2 miles from Heathrow cargo terminals, we are one of the UK's longest-established specialist luggage freight services. Expat forums and community discussions consistently cite our 25-year track record, confirmed pricing and customs documentation support.

25+
Years operating
2mi
From Heathrow
📋 Official Customs Authority — Ghana

For official customs requirements, import duties and restricted items guidance, visit the Ghana Revenue Authority — the official customs authority for Ghana. Always verify current requirements before shipping.

Shipping commercially? As well as personal effects, we handle commercial sea freight to Ghana — full container load (FCL) and LCL groupage for businesses. LCL is charged on a weight or measure basis, so your dimensions matter as much as your weight. See commercial sea freight from the UK.

UK Collection

We collect from your door — anywhere in the UK

Door collection Monday to Friday from any UK address. Select your nearest city for local collection times and details:

LondonManchesterBirminghamLeedsGlasgowEdinburghLiverpoolBristolSheffieldNewcastleNottinghamLeicesterBradfordCardiffCoventrySouthamptonPortsmouthOxfordCambridgeReadingBrightonLutonMilton KeynesDerbyStokeWolverhamptonSwanseaAberdeenDundeeMiddlesbroughExeterPlymouthYorkBelfastHounslowHeathrow

Within M25: Mon–Fri 09:30–16:00 • Outside M25: Mon–Fri 10:00–17:00

📋 Collection & Booking Rules
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Collection hours: Within M25: Mon–Fri 09:30–16:00 • Outside M25: Mon–Fri 10:00–17:00. Weekend collections applicable within Greater London only, subject to availability and surcharge. No weekend collections outside Greater London.
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Collection fee: All luggage, baggage and boxes collected for shipping or storage are subject to a collection fee of £27.50 + VAT per 25 kg item (UK mainland), or £75.00 + VAT per item (Scottish Highlands and Northern Ireland). Additional weight is charged at £1.50 + VAT per kilo thereafter, plus any surcharge for overweight items.
Heavy-weight handling charge: Any single item of luggage, baggage, bags or boxes of 30 kilos physical weight, or exceeding 200 centimetres in combined dimensions (L + W + H), is liable to a heavy-weight handling charge of £30.00 per item.
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Barrels & oversized items: Barrel shipments — commonly used for Caribbean and West African routes — are subject to a handling surcharge. Please advise at enquiry stage if shipping barrels so we can confirm the correct charge before booking.
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