Ghana To Host Signing Of Historic UN Trade Convention Tagged “Accra Convention”

Ghana will host the signing ceremony for the United Nations Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents in Accra on October 26, 2026, a moment described as national pride.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed this during a briefing for the Diplomatic Corps ahead of the international event.

The Convention was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 15, 2025, and establishes a uniform legal framework for the issuance and use of negotiable cargo documents across different modes of transport, including road, rail, air and sea. It also provides for the use of such documents in electronic form.

By providing a common legal framework, the Convention seeks to facilitate trade finance, enable the sale of goods in transit, promote multimodal transportation, and support the digitalisation of international trade, contributing to greater efficiency and legal certainty within global supply chains.

For Ghana, hosting the opening-for-signature ceremony is a matter of considerable national pride. The General Assembly, in authorising the ceremony to be held in Accra, also recommended that the Convention be known as the “Accra Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents.”

The Ministry said this is a recognition of Ghana’s contribution to the development of international trade law and reflects the country’s longstanding commitment to multilateralism, international cooperation and the progressive development and harmonisation of international law.

The Ministry noted that the Convention is timely for Africa, as the continent advances regional economic integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), where efficient cross-border transportation, trade documentation, and access to trade finance are becoming increasingly important.

Ghana has encouraged all Missions to convey the relevant information to their respective capitals and to facilitate the participation of their governments in the ceremony, as a demonstration of their commitment to strengthening the international legal framework governing modern trade.

The Convention will enter into force following the deposit of the tenth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval, or accession.

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