On October 26, 2026, Ghana played host to the signing ceremony of the United Nations Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents, also known as the Accra Convention. This significant event coincided with the 60th anniversary celebrations of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). The convention was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 15, 2025.
The Accra Convention aims to provide greater flexibility, reduce administrative bottlenecks, and improve the efficiency of cargo movement across various transport networks, including road, rail, and air. The ceremony brought together representatives of member states and key stakeholders to advance international cooperation in trade law and facilitate the efficient movement of goods across borders.
Honourable James Gyakye Quayson, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ghana, welcomed participants and expressed confidence that their presence would deepen cooperation among countries. He highlighted UNCITRAL's contributions to international trade over the past six decades and stressed the importance of international cooperation amid global uncertainty and rising geopolitical tensions.
The convention's benefits include supporting regional integration and the implementation of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS). Honourable Joseph Bukari Nikpe, Ghana's Minister of Transport, emphasized the importance of the transport sector to national development and noted that the convention would improve cargo movement. He called for a coordinated approach to its implementation.
Ms. Anna Joubin-Bret, Secretary of UNCITRAL, expressed appreciation to the Government of Ghana for hosting the signing ceremony and thanked participating member states and stakeholders for their contributions. She noted that the Accra Convention's benefits depend on its widespread adoption and effective implementation.
Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry of Ghana, highlighted the convention's potential to address existing gaps in cargo documentation. She outlined three key features of the convention and announced that Ghana would initiate domestic legal processes towards ratification, aiming to be among the first countries to ratify it.
Twenty-six countries signed the Accra Convention, marking an important step towards its wider adoption and implementation. The ceremony reaffirmed Ghana's commitment to multilateral cooperation, modernization of international trade law, and promotion of an efficient, inclusive, and rules-based global trading system.
Key points
- The Accra Convention aims to reduce legal uncertainty in international trade and facilitate the movement of goods across borders.
- The convention provides greater flexibility, reduces administrative bottlenecks, and improves the efficiency of cargo movement across road, rail, and air transport networks.
- Twenty-six countries signed the Accra Convention, marking a significant step towards its adoption and implementation.
