By Josephine Sesay

Sierra Leone has signed the United Nations Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents, popularly known as the Accra Convention, in a move aimed at facilitating trade, improving access to business financing and creating new economic opportunities for the country.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, signed the Convention on behalf of Sierra Leone during a ceremony held in Accra, Ghana.

The agreement seeks to establish a common legal framework for the use of paper-based and electronic negotiable cargo documents across different modes of transport, with the aim of simplifying trade procedures and making the movement of goods more efficient.

Speaking on the significance of the agreement, Minister Swaray said the Convention could provide businesses with improved opportunities to access financing using goods in transit, reduce the complexities associated with trade documentation and facilitate the delivery of products to markets.

He noted that these measures could help strengthen the business environment, improve the efficiency of supply chains and support economic growth.

The signing also aligns with President Julius Maada Bio’s vision of promoting economic diversification, attracting investment and creating employment opportunities for Sierra Leoneans.

According to the minister, the Convention presents an opportunity for Sierra Leone and other African countries to strengthen regional trade and expand economic cooperation under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The AfCFTA seeks to promote intra-African trade by reducing barriers to the movement of goods and services across the continent. The adoption of a common framework for negotiable cargo documents could complement these efforts by helping businesses navigate trade processes more efficiently.

Minister Swaray further highlighted the importance of Sierra Leone’s participation in the Convention, particularly as the country chairs the 59th session of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).

He congratulated Ghana on hosting the signing ceremony and commended the partners involved in developing the Convention, describing the agreement as an important step towards improving trade facilitation and strengthening the legal foundations of international commerce.

The foreign minister also reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to the early ratification of the Convention and encouraged other African countries to join the agreement to promote a more coordinated and business-friendly trading environment across the continent.

For Sierra Leone, improved trade documentation and access to financing could be particularly beneficial to businesses involved in importing, exporting and transporting goods.

A more efficient cargo documentation system could help reduce administrative burdens, support commercial transactions and improve connections between producers and markets.

However, the signing of the Convention does not, by itself, mean that all its provisions are immediately enforceable under domestic law.

Its full legal effect in Sierra Leone will depend on the applicable ratification procedures and the measures required for its implementation.

The signing therefore marks an important step in Sierra Leone’s efforts to strengthen trade cooperation, support private-sector development and position local businesses to benefit from expanding regional and continental markets.

As African countries continue to pursue greater economic integration, the successful ratification and implementation of the Accra Convention could help create new opportunities for businesses while contributing to the broader objectives of investment, job creation and sustainable economic development.

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, 28th October 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)