• Agreement targets logistics efficiency, customs, infrastructure modernization
• Partnership aims to boost trade, though current volumes remain low

Ghana and Colombia have signed a memorandum of understanding on port cooperation, establishing a partnership between the Port of Tema and the Port of Cartagena, Ghanaian Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced.

Ghana and Colombia have signed a historic agreement to connect the Port of Tema to the Port of Cartagena.

The landmark agreement was signed in Bogotá, Colombia after successful negotiations.

The agreement creates direct maritime trade connectivity between Ghana and Columbia… pic.twitter.com/GALtH1Lwj5

— Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa (@S_OkudzetoAblak) March 23, 2026

The MOU was signed on Saturday, March 21, in Bogotá after talks between the two countries.

The agreement aims to promote knowledge exchange and the sharing of best practices in areas including customs management, logistics efficiency and port infrastructure modernization. The partnership is expected to reduce transit times and operational costs while improving the competitiveness of exports and imports between the two countries.

Ablakwa praised the initiative, saying the Atlantic Ocean corridor, which once symbolized the horrors of slavery and served as a mass grave, is now being deliberately transformed into a corridor for opportunity, job creation and economic emancipation.

In December 2025, a Colombian delegation led by Vice President Francia Elena Márquez Mina visited the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority to explore investment opportunities and expand trade ties. She underscored her country's desire to strengthen trade relations with Ghana through increased port cooperation to improve living conditions in both countries.

Ghana and Colombia have maintained diplomatic ties since 1988, with relations gradually strengthening across political, economic and cultural areas. The two countries hold political consultations to coordinate positions in multilateral forums, alongside visits and meetings to strengthen bilateral ties.

For Colombia, the memorandum represents a gateway to strengthen its presence in Africa, identifying Ghana as a key partner and a platform to access new markets in the region. For Ghana, the agreement offers direct access to Latin American markets, an opportunity to modernize its ports and a way to strengthen bilateral trade.

Bilateral trade remains limited, estimated at $3.2 million in 2025, according to the International Trade Centre. Coffee and cocoa are among the most traded goods and remain central to the commercial relationship. The Colombian government, however, highlights opportunities in sectors such as rice, vegetables, sugar and other agricultural products that could boost both economies and support value chain development.

Lydie Mobio