Ghana to host signing of UN Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents

Ghana intends to sign and ratify the United Nations Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents, also known as the Accra Convention. The initiative aims to transform trade finance, digital cargo documentation, and cross-border commerce within the ECOWAS region.

Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2025, the Convention provides a legal framework for the use of cargo documents in the transport of goods via road, rail, and air. Ghana's Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, hosted a virtual sensitization program for ECOWAS Member States to assess the instrument's compatibility with national legal frameworks.

The Convention is scheduled to be opened for signature in Accra on October 26, 2026. Officials from the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) and the ECOWAS Commission have encouraged member states to support the ratification and implementation of the framework.