Ghana hosted the opening for signature of the United Nations (UN) Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents in Accra on 26 October, where 26 countries, including Guinea, signed, according to Ghanaian media. The treaty, adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2025, extends the role of the maritime bill of lading to road, rail and air transport and gives electronic documents the same legal effect as paper ones. Goods moving overland could not until now easily be sold or pledged while in transit. Once ten states ratify it, traders and small firms could use cargo on the move as collateral for bank credit, but the gain depends on banks accepting the documents. Ghana and Guinea say they will start ratification.
Sources
- UNCITRAL: https://uncitral.un.org/sites/default/files/2026-03/information_brochure_ncd_convention_26_february_2026.pdf
- GhanaWeb: https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/business/26-countries-sign-Accra-Convention-to-facilitate-international-trade-2058503
- Guinéenews: https://guineenews.org/2026/10/26/commerce-international-la-guinee-signe-la-convention-daccra-pour-faciliter-les-echanges-et-lacces-des-pme-au-credit/
- Graphic Online: https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/ghana-news-ghana-to-activate-un-negotiable-cargo-document-october-26.html
- MyJoyOnline: https://www.myjoyonline.com/ghana-to-lead-ecowas-adoption-of-accra-convention-on-cargo-documents-trade-minister/