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Colombia’s Vice President, Francia Elena Márquez Mina, has highlighted Ghana’s strategic importance in Colombia’s efforts to reconnect with global markets through strengthened trade partnerships. She said this priority was rooted in the deep historical and cultural links shared by the two countries.
She explained that Colombia was keen on deepening trade relations with Ghana by improving cooperation between their ports, with the ultimate goal of enhancing livelihoods in both nations.
Vice President Márquez Mina made these remarks during a visit to the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), where she led a high-level business delegation to explore investment prospects and advance bilateral trade relations. The visit focused on identifying areas of shared commercial interest and reinforcing economic cooperation between Ghana and Colombia.
She underscored the vital role ports play in national development and called for closer collaboration between ports in both countries to stimulate economic growth and shared prosperity.
According to her, Colombia is interested in exporting goods to Ghana and establishing a direct maritime route between the two countries, noting that such a connection is geographically viable through one of Colombia’s two major ports. She also proposed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise cooperation between the ports of Ghana and Colombia.
Additionally, Vice President Márquez Mina announced that Colombia would host an African Trade Forum in March 2026 and officially invited the GPHA to take part in the event.
She further stressed the need to transform historic maritime routes linked to the transatlantic slave trade into modern channels of trade, partnership, and mutual development.
The delegation was received on behalf of the GPHA Director-General by the Director of the Port of Tema, Tebon Zumah, alongside other senior officials of the Authority.
Mr Zumah reaffirmed that efficient port infrastructure was essential for international trade and welcomed the proposal for enhanced collaboration between Ghanaian and Colombian ports. He expressed support for exchange programmes between the ports to promote knowledge sharing and capacity building.
He also pointed out Ghana’s strategic role as a gateway to landlocked countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, noting that Colombia could use Ghana’s ports to reach these markets. He further identified opportunities for tourism development through passenger vessel services.
As part of the visit, Vice President Márquez Mina and her delegation toured key facilities at the Port of Tema, including the Meridian Port Services (MPS) Terminal Three and the Fruit Terminal, where they observed ongoing port operations.
Source: citinews
