Image@ Citi Newsroom
Ghana is seeking wider international participation in a new United Nations agreement aimed at modernising cargo documentation, with representatives from over 10 countries expected in the country’s capital, Accra for its signing on October 26, 2026.
The proposed convention establishes uniform legal rules for negotiable shipping documents in both physical and digital forms, applicable to goods carried by sea, air, road and railway.
The initiative is designed to simplify international commerce, eliminate paperwork-related obstacles and allow businesses to transfer ownership rights to merchandise while shipments are underway.
Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority, Professor Ransford Gyampo, said the country was collaborating with relevant ministries and global organisations to attract support for the agreement.
Addressing journalists before the planned event, he emphasised the importance of bringing international stakeholders together to advance the initiative.
Prof. Gyampo observed that technological advancements had transformed international commerce, creating demand for quicker, safer and more reliable transactions.
Nevertheless, he noted that several procedures governing the movement of goods still relied on physical paperwork.
The proposed framework is expected to bridge this gap by establishing recognised rules for cargo documents across different transportation networks.
It could also enable businesses to use such records as instruments for securing trade-related financing.
Speaking for the Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, a ministry representative, Stella Ansah, who serves as Chief Commercial Officer and Director of Foreign Trade and Negotiation, highlighted the agreement’s potential economic benefits.
She explained that the framework could widen credit opportunities for smaller enterprises, particularly women-owned ventures, while improving links between landlocked nations and international markets.
Ms. Ansah disclosed that Ghana intended to endorse the agreement and pursue ratification without unnecessary delays.
She added that discussions had been held with members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to encourage their participation.
The proposed rules could be particularly beneficial to traders whose consignments pass through several transportation channels, as differing regulatory requirements often create delays and complicate the transfer of cargo rights.
To ensure adequate preparations, the Ghana Shippers’ Authority is coordinating with the Ministries of Transport, Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, and Foreign Affairs.
The collaboration also includes efforts to educate stakeholders about the agreement’s implications.
The signing ceremony will form part of events commemorating the 60th anniversary of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
Under the agreement, the framework will become effective 180 days after the tenth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession has been deposited.
Ghana’s diplomatic efforts are intended to encourage wider adoption of the convention, strengthen the legal foundation of international cargo transactions and promote smoother cross-border trade.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong