By: Mohamed J. Bangura
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, has signed the United Nations Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents, popularly known as the Accra Convention, in a move aimed at facilitating trade, attracting investment and expanding opportunities for local businesses.
The signing ceremony, held in Accra, Ghana, marks a significant step towards establishing a common legal framework for paper-based and electronic cargo documents across different modes of transport.
The Convention is expected to simplify trade documentation, improve access to financing for goods in transit and enable businesses to transport products more efficiently to domestic, regional and international markets.
For Sierra Leone, the agreement aligns with President Julius Maada Bio’s vision of economic diversification, investment promotion and job creation. Its implementation could help improve the business environment, strengthen supply chains and enhance the country’s participation in regional and continental trade.
Minister Swaray expressed satisfaction with Sierra Leone’s participation in the milestone ceremony, noting that the country currently chairs the 59th session of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).
He congratulated Ghana on hosting the ceremony and commended the partners involved in developing the Convention.
Swaray also reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to the early ratification of the agreement and encouraged other African countries to join the initiative.
He stressed the importance of translating the Convention’s provisions into tangible economic benefits for citizens and businesses across the continent, particularly by strengthening regional supply chains and advancing trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).