Gabon Signs the Accra Convention to Modernise Cargo Documents and Facilitate Trade
The Minister of State, Minister of Transport, Merchant Marine and Logistics, Mr Ulrich MANFOUMBI MANFOUMBI, took part on Monday, 26 October 2026, in Accra, Ghana, in the opening ceremony marking the signing of the United Nations Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents, also known as the “Accra Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents”.
On this occasion, Gabon signed this international legal instrument, which aims to modernise and facilitate trade through a harmonised framework for the issuance and use of negotiable cargo documents, in either paper or electronic format, regardless of the mode of transport concerned.
This initiative marks an important milestone in the modernisation of the transport and logistics sector. By promoting the use of negotiable cargo documents, including electronic documents, the Convention seeks to streamline trade operations, simplify documentary procedures, reduce delays and transaction costs, while strengthening legal certainty and the traceability of trade transactions.
For Gabon, this commitment is part of a broader drive to modernise international trade practices, improve supply chain performance and strengthen the competitiveness of economic operators. In the long term, the implementation of the Convention, in accordance with applicable national procedures, could contribute to smoother multimodal transport and greater efficiency in import and export operations.
This approach is aligned with the priorities of the President of the Republic, Head of State and Head of Government, His Excellency Mr Brice Clotaire OLIGUI NGUEMA, who places particular emphasis on initiatives promoting modernisation, cooperation and regional integration. It reflects Gabon’s commitment to openness to partnerships, trade facilitation and making full use of the opportunities offered by the digital transformation of international trade.
The ceremony, held in the Ghanaian capital, brought together representatives of 26 signatory states around this common framework, designed to facilitate the movement of goods and the transfer of the documents representing them. This strong participation demonstrates the interest shown by states in legal and digital solutions capable of simplifying commercial transactions, promoting multimodal transport and strengthening the integration of their economies into global trade networks.
Through its signing of the Accra Convention, the Republic of Gabon thus reaffirms its determination to keep pace with the changes taking place in the transport and logistics sector, with a focus on innovation, operational efficiency and access to international markets. This step paves the way for smoother trade and the stronger integration of Gabon into regional and international trade dynamics.
Source: Ministry of Transport, Merchant Marine and Logistics, Gabon.
