Ghana and 10 other countries are set to formalise their intent and support for the United Nations Convention on Negotiable Cargo Document in Accra with a signing ceremony.
The convention seeks to address a significant part of international trade bottlenecks by establishing a harmonised legal framework for the use of electronic negotiable cargo documents.
Adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 15, 2025, the document also provides the legal foundation for electronic documents to perform the functions of the paper-based equivalents, subject to the requirements of the Convention and to extend the legal benefit and certainty of negotiable transport documents far beyond traditional maritime transport into multimodal logistics.
After the endorsement, the convention would undergo domestic legislative and technical reviews and secure cabinet, parliamentary and executive authorisations within 180 days for ratification.
The initiative is being spearheaded by the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Ghana Shippers Authority, with the media interaction intended to equip media personnel with a clear understanding of the convention.
Media interaction
Announcing the forthcoming ceremony at a media engagement in Accra last Thursday, October 15, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Shippers Authority, Prof. Ransford Gyampo, described the step taken as an important development for international trade, saying it would create opportunities to reduce documentation-related delays, improve transaction efficiency, facilitate access to trade finance and support the development of more integrated digital supply chains.
He indicated that the convention was not simply about replacing paper with electronic records, but building the legal certainty and confidence necessary for businesses and institutions to conduct trade in an increasingly digital environment.
“For Ghana, hosting the signing ceremony is both a privilege and an opportunity.
It reflects Ghana’s contribution to international efforts to modernise commercial law and provides an important platform to demonstrate our commitment to trade facilitation, digital transformation and stronger regional and international trade connectivity,” he added.
He said, “It also aligns with Ghana’s ambition to strengthen its position as a preferred trade and logistics hub in West Africa and to advance the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).”
Background
International trade is undergoing significant transformation, driven by digitalisation, changing supply chain demands and the need for faster, more efficient and secure cross-border transactions.
Yet, an important aspect of global trade documentation remains heavily dependent on paper, which creates delays, increases administrative costs, exposes transactions to fraud and complicates the movement of goods across borders.
The Ghana Shipping Authority CEO, therefore, observed that where cross-border transactions frequently involved multiple jurisdictions, transport modes and border procedures, a reliable legal framework for electronic negotiable cargo documents could help reduce documentary barriers, improve the flow of trade-related information, as well as support more efficient cargo movement across supply chains.
