Ghana Shippers’ Authority Engages Media on Accra Convention

The Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) has organised a media sensitisation workshop on the Accra Convention ahead of its signing ceremony in Accra.

The workshop, held at the Ghana Shippers’ House, brought together journalists and media representatives to enhance their understanding of the Convention and its importance to international trade.

The Convention, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2025, establishes a legal framework for the use of negotiable cargo documents across different modes of transport, including road, rail, air and sea. It also supports the use of these documents in electronic form to facilitate digital trade.

Addressing participants, the Chief Executive Officer of GSA, Prof. Ransford Gyampo, said the Convention would help reduce documentation delays, improve trade efficiency and support access to trade finance.

He noted that the Convention was not only about replacing paper documents with electronic records but also about creating the legal certainty needed for businesses to trade confidently in a digital environment.

Prof. Gyampo said Ghana’s hosting of the signing ceremony demonstrated the country’s commitment to modernising trade documentation and strengthening its position as a trade and logistics hub in West Africa.

He added that the Convention aligned with Ghana’s ambition to position itself as a preferred trade and logistics hub in West Africa while supporting the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Prof. Gyampo noted that the adoption of a harmonised legal framework for electronic negotiable cargo documents could help address documentary barriers that often affect cross-border trade in Africa and make international transactions more predictable and efficient for businesses.

The Principal Freight and Logistics Officer at GSA, Rhodalyn Djanitey, explained the key provisions of the Convention and outlined the requirements for its entry into force.

According to her, the Convention would become effective 180 days after the deposit of the tenth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, after which its provisions would become legally binding on the states for which it was in force.

The representative of the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Stella Ansah, said the Accra Convention offered an opportunity to simplify trade documentation, improve the efficiency of cross-border transactions and strengthen the competitiveness of Ghanaian businesses in regional and international markets.

The signing ceremony is being organised through a collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, the Ministry of Transport, the Attorney General’s Department and the GSA.

Margaret Adjeley Sowah, ISD