Ghana is set to host the signing of the United Nations Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents, popularly known as the Accra Convention, on October 26, 2026, in a development expected to strengthen international trade documentation and promote more efficient global commerce.
The announcement was made by the Director of the Foreign Trade and Negotiations Directorate at the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Madam Stella A. Ansah, on behalf of the Minister, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, during a media engagement organised by the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) in Accra on Thursday.
The engagement sought to sensitise media practitioners on the significance of the Convention and Ghana’s role in hosting the landmark international signing ceremony.
Addressing journalists, Madam Ansah said the Convention would establish a legal framework governing negotiable cargo documents in both paper and electronic formats for goods transported by road, rail, air and sea.
She noted that the framework is expected to support the growing digitalisation of global trade by providing legal certainty for the use and transfer of cargo documents across different modes of transportation.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority, Professor Ransford Edward Gyampo, underscored the importance of modernising trade documentation systems to keep pace with technological advancements and the increasing complexity of global supply chains.
According to him, the Convention represents a significant step towards creating a more efficient and secure international trading environment, reducing administrative bottlenecks and facilitating smoother cross-border transactions.
The signing ceremony is expected to attract government representatives, international organisations, industry stakeholders and members of the global trading community to Accra.
The event is also anticipated to enhance Ghana’s profile within the international trade community by positioning the country at the forefront of efforts to modernise the legal framework governing cargo documentation.
Stakeholders believe the Convention will contribute to improved trade facilitation, increased efficiency in cargo movement and stronger regulatory certainty for businesses engaged in international commerce.
The hosting of the signing ceremony further highlights Ghana’s growing role in shaping global trade initiatives and supporting efforts to advance digital transformation within the international trading system.