# Accra Convention signed by 26 nations in Ghana > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/ghana-hosting-un-cargo-documentation-convention-signing > Updated: 2026-10-27T06:29:59.000Z. Sources: 16. Developments: 5. On October 26, 2026, representatives from 26 countries gathered in Accra, Ghana, to sign the United Nations Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents, informally known as the Accra Convention. Adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2025, the agreement establishes a unified legal framework for negotiable cargo documents—such as bills of lading—across road, rail, air, and maritime transport. A central component of the convention is granting electronic cargo documents the same legal standing as paper records. This digital transformation aims to modernize international commerce, reduce logistical constraints, and facilitate faster, more secure transactions. By providing legal protection to buyers and banks, the framework is expected to improve access to credit, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Following the signing, Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Jiang Chenghua noted that the regulatory innovation fills a gap in current international rules by allowing goods ownership representation to extend beyond traditional maritime bills of lading, thereby improving supply chain efficiency. Ghanaian Commerce Minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare announced that the country will soon begin legislative processes and implement pilot projects to test the use of these negotiable documents. Officials from the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) have emphasized the treaty’s importance, with Secretary Anna Joubin-Bret thanking China for its support during the drafting process. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-27: China and 25 nations sign agreement to facilitate global trade China and 25 countries have signed a UN-approved agreement in Ghana to streamline global trade through new legal frameworks for transport documents, reducing costs and improving supply chain efficiency. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/china-and-25-nations-sign-agreement-to-facilitate-global-trade ### 2026-10-26: Accra Convention signed by 26 nations to modernize cargo documentation Twenty-six nations signed the UN Accra Convention in Ghana, a new legal framework designed to modernize cargo documentation and facilitate smoother international trade via electronic and paper records. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/accra-convention-signed-by-26-nations-to-modernize-cargo-documentation ### 2026-10-19: Ghana moves to reform cargo documentation and port operations Ghana aims to boost trade competitiveness by adopting a UN convention for electronic cargo documents and modernizing port clearance processes at Tema and Takoradi. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ghana-moves-to-reform-cargo-documentation-and-port-operations ### 2026-10-16: Ghana to host UN signing of negotiable cargo documents convention Ghana will host the signing of the UN Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents in Accra on October 26, 2026, to modernize international trade through digital and paper documentation frameworks. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ghana-to-host-un-signing-of-negotiable-cargo-documents-convention ### 2026-10-08: Ghana to host signing of UN Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents Ghana will host the signing of the Accra Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents on October 26, 2026, aiming to streamline trade finance and cross-border commerce across the ECOWAS region. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ghana-to-host-signing-of-un-convention-on-negotiable-cargo-documents --- Cite as: Accra Convention signed by 26 nations in Ghana. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/ghana-hosting-un-cargo-documentation-convention-signing