The Vice President of Colombia, Francia Elena Márquez Mina, has announced her country’s interest in establishing a direct maritime route between Ghana and Colombia as part of efforts to deepen trade and investment ties.
She explained that the proposed route is geographically feasible through one of Colombia’s two major ports and could significantly enhance commercial exchanges between West Africa and Latin America.
Vice President Márquez Mina further proposed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ports in Colombia and Ghana to formalise cooperation in port development, logistics, and maritime trade.
She made the remarks on Friday, December 12, 2025, while leading a high-level Colombian business delegation to the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) during an official visit aimed at exploring investment opportunities and strengthening bilateral economic relations.
The delegation was received on behalf of the GPHA Director-General by Tebon Zumah, Director of the Port of Tema, together with other senior officials.
Strategic Vision for Trade Ties
Vice President Márquez Mina emphasised the strategic role of ports in national development and called for closer cooperation between Ghanaian and Colombian ports to drive growth and shared prosperity.
She noted that Colombia is pursuing a broader vision of reconnecting with the global economy through strategic trade partnerships, adding that Ghana holds a special place in this vision due to long-standing historical and cultural links.
Strengthened port cooperation, she said, would expand trade volumes, improve logistics efficiency, and create economic opportunities that positively impact livelihoods in both countries.
She also announced that Colombia will host an African Trade Forum in March 2026, formally inviting the GPHA to participate.
The Vice President underscored the importance of transforming historical maritime routes — once associated with the transatlantic slave trade — into modern pathways for trade, partnership, and mutual development.
Ghana Welcomes Port Partnership
Responding to the proposal, Tebon Zumah, Director of the Port of Tema, welcomed the collaboration and highlighted the importance of efficient port infrastructure to international trade.
He expressed support for exchange programmes between Ghanaian and Colombian ports, describing them as vital for knowledge sharing, skills transfer, and capacity building.
Zumah also pointed to Ghana’s strategic position as a maritime gateway to landlocked countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, noting that Colombian businesses could leverage Ghana’s ports to access wider regional markets.
He further identified opportunities for tourism development, particularly through the introduction of passenger vessel services between the two countries.
As part of the visit, Vice President Márquez Mina and her delegation toured key facilities at the Port of Tema, including Meridian Port Services Terminal 3 and the Fruit Terminal, where they observed ongoing operations and infrastructure development.
—Graphic Online