Cargo between Ghana and Colombia currently undergoes lengthy trans-shipments through Europe or North America.
by Blue Africa News
Colombia is considering the establishment of a direct maritime corridor connecting its ports to Ghana, a project being promoted as a catalyst for mutual economic growth and development.
Establishment of the maritime route formed part of the discussions during Colombia Vice President Francia Elena Márquez Mina’s recent visit to Ghana, where she toured the Port of Tema, proposing a direct maritime route between the two countries.
“We are here to transform historical maritime routes once associated with the transatlantic slave trade into modern channels of prosperity, partnership, and mutual development,” Vice President Márquez Mina said a reported by Logistics Update Africa.
Cargo between the two countries currently undergoes lengthy trans-shipments through Europe or North America, with Mina emphasising the strategic importance of ports to national development.
“Colombia is pursuing a broader vision of reconnecting with the global economy through strategic trade partnerships. Ghana holds a special place in that vision due to long-standing historical and cultural links between Africa and Latin America,” she said.
In expressing agreement to the proposal, Port of Tema Director Tebon Zumah highlighted the critical role of efficient port infrastructure in supporting international trade.
“I support exchange programs between Ghanaian ports and their Colombian counterparts,” India Sea Trade news quoted the director as saying.
He noted that Ghana holds a strategic position as a maritime gateway to landlocked countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, adding that Colombian businesses could use Ghanaian ports to access broader West African markets.
Mina was welcomed to Ghana by Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang. Professor Opoku-Agyemang described the visit as a reaffirmation of “deep, longstanding, and mutually respectful relations” built on shared values and common aspirations.
“Colombia’s commitment to advancing reparations strongly aligns with Ghana’s leadership in this vital discourse,” Vice President Opoku-Agyemang said as per a press release by Ghana presidency.
“Ghana stands ready to serve as Colombia’s natural entry point into this vast market,” she added, and went ahead to identify agriculture, digital innovation, climate resilience, and trade investment as promising areas for collaboration.
According to eoc.world, in 2023, Ghana exported US$878,000 worth of commodities to Colombia. The main products that Ghana exported to Colombia were raw lead used clothing and interior decorative glassware.
Under the same period, Colombia exported goods worth US$22.6M to Ghana, with the main products exported to Ghana being palm oil, garden tools and lifting machinery.
Oliver Ochieng, Blue Africa News