Ghana is set to take a major step towards transforming international trade by hosting the signing ceremony of the United Nations Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents, a landmark agreement expected to accelerate digital trade, reduce transaction costs and improve access to trade finance.
The historic ceremony, scheduled for October 26, 2026, in Accra, will bring together government representatives, international organisations and key stakeholders in the global trade and transport sectors to advance the transition from traditional paper-based cargo documentation to electronic systems.
The initiative is expected to improve the efficiency of cross-border transactions by establishing a harmonised legal framework that allows electronic negotiable cargo documents to perform the functions of their paper-based equivalents.
The Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA), in collaboration with the Ministries of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry; Transport; and Foreign Affairs, is engaging stakeholders and educating the public on the Convention ahead of the signing ceremony.
Speaking at a media engagement in Accra, the Chief Executive Officer of the GSA, Prof. Ransford Edward Gyampo, described Ghana’s hosting of the event as a significant achievement that would strengthen the country’s role in shaping international trade reforms.
He said the Convention would help address longstanding challenges associated with physical cargo documents, which often cause delays, increase administrative costs and expose businesses to fraud in international commercial transactions.
According to him, the agreement seeks to enable electronic negotiable cargo documents to perform the functions of traditional paper documents, subject to the Convention’s requirements, thereby making trade transactions faster, more secure and efficient.
Professor Gyampo explained that negotiable cargo documents, including bills of lading and other documents representing rights to goods in transit, play an essential role in international commerce by facilitating the movement of goods, supporting commercial transactions and providing a basis for trade financing.
However, the continued reliance on physical documents creates difficulties when multiple transport operators, financial institutions, exporters, importers and other parties are involved in a transaction.
He noted that moving towards electronic documentation would reduce the need to physically transfer documents between parties while establishing the legal certainty required for businesses to trust and use digital cargo records.
“The idea of what we are going to talk about is to move away from goods. People want to access their rights to goods, and they want to do so on the basis of paper documentation. We want to move away from that and make it electronic,” he explained.
Professor Gyampo compared the proposed reform to electronic banking, which enables people to access their money and make payments without carrying physical cash.
He stressed that the Convention was not simply about replacing paper documents with electronic records, but also about establishing the legal framework necessary to ensure that digital transactions are recognised and trusted across jurisdictions.
Boost for Ghana’s Trade and Logistics Sector
Professor Gyampo said hosting the signing ceremony presented Ghana with an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to trade facilitation, digital transformation and stronger international commercial relations.
He added that the initiative aligned with the country’s ambition to position itself as a preferred trade and logistics hub in West Africa and advance the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The Convention is particularly significant for African countries, where cross-border trade often involves different jurisdictions, transport systems and border procedures.
A harmonised legal framework for electronic negotiable cargo documents could help reduce documentary barriers, improve the exchange of trade-related information and facilitate the movement of goods across regional and international supply chains.
For Ghanaian importers and exporters, the anticipated benefits include reduced administrative burdens, faster transaction processing, improved access to trade finance and enhanced credibility in international markets.
The reform could also help businesses manage cargo transactions more efficiently by reducing delays associated with the preparation, transfer and verification of physical documents.
However, Professor Gyampo cautioned that hosting the ceremony would not automatically translate into these benefits.
He said sustained efforts would be required to support the Convention’s adoption, ratification and implementation, while businesses, financial institutions, transport operators and regulators would need to prepare for the transition to electronic negotiable cargo documents.
He therefore urged the media to educate the public on the Convention and its potential implications for the cost, speed and efficiency of doing business in Ghana.
He emphasised that the October 26 ceremony should mark the beginning of a broader national conversation on the legal, institutional, technological and commercial measures needed to translate the agreement into tangible economic benefits.
Government Targets Wider Trade Opportunities
In a statement delivered on her behalf, the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, said Ghana was proud to host the signing ceremony, describing it as an opportunity for the country to contribute to shaping the future of global trade.
She noted that the event would coincide with the 60th anniversary of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), adding to its significance for Ghana and the international trading community.
The Minister explained that the Convention was designed to address limitations in existing cargo documentation arrangements, particularly for goods transported by road, rail and air, where transport documents generally do not offer the same negotiability as traditional maritime bills of lading.
By establishing a legal framework for negotiable cargo documents in both paper and electronic forms across different modes of transport, she said, the Convention could make it easier to transfer rights to goods in transit and use the documents to support financing.
She added that the reform could create new opportunities for small businesses and women-led enterprises, strengthen connections between landlocked countries and international markets, and promote more efficient digital trade.
According to the Minister, the Convention was developed through UNCITRAL’s working process with contributions from stakeholders across the trade and transport sectors and would not establish a new international institution.
She further explained that the Convention would enter into force 180 days after the deposit of the tenth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.
The Minister disclosed that Ghana was preparing to sign the Convention and intended to proceed promptly with ratification.
She also said the government had engaged the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) community to encourage member states to consider signing the agreement.
Calling on other countries to join the initiative, she stressed that the Convention could extend the benefits traditionally associated with maritime bills of lading to goods transported by trucks, trains and aircraft.
Transport Ministry Backs Digital Transition
A representative of the Ministry of Transport welcomed Ghana’s decision to take the lead in signing the Convention, describing it as consistent with the Ministry’s efforts to move from paper-based procedures to electronic systems.
The representative commended the GSA for its leadership and acknowledged the collaboration among the relevant government institutions in advancing Ghana’s digitalisation agenda.
The GSA has reaffirmed its commitment to working with ministries, departments and agencies, industry stakeholders and international partners to raise awareness and support the measures required for the Convention’s effective adoption and implementation.
The October 26 signing ceremony is expected to provide a significant platform for advancing discussions on the future of digital cargo documentation and its implications for international commerce.
Ultimately, the success of the initiative will depend on Ghana’s ability to move beyond the signing ceremony to effective ratification, implementation and adoption by businesses and other stakeholders. If successfully implemented, the Convention could help reduce trade barriers, improve access to financing and strengthen Ghana’s competitiveness in regional and global markets.
