The Vice President of Colombia, H.E. Francia Elena Márquez Mina, recently led a significant business delegation to the Port of Tema in Ghana. This visit, aimed at fostering maritime and trade cooperation, signifies a crucial step in strengthening South-South relations between Latin America and Africa. Hosted by Tebon Zumah, the Acting Director of the Port of Tema, the discussions focused on practical collaboration beyond mere diplomatic engagement.
Central to the talks was a groundbreaking proposal to establish a direct maritime route that would connect major Colombian ports with Ghana. Currently, trade between these two regions often involves lengthy transshipment routes via Europe or North America, inflating both time and costs. The envisioned direct route promises to streamline this process, potentially transforming trade dynamics and promoting economic growth for both nations.
During her visit, Vice President Márquez Mina emphasized the historical significance of maritime routes, stating, “We are here to transform historical maritime routes, once associated with the transatlantic slave trade, into modern channels of prosperity, partnership, and mutual development.” This statement captures the essence of the visit—prioritizing forward-thinking cooperation while acknowledging historical contexts.
In line with fostering enduring ties, Vice President Márquez Mina proposed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to formalize collaboration between Colombian ports and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority. Such an agreement would serve as a strategic framework for working together on port operations, logistics, and trade facilitation, ensuring that both sides can navigate the complexities of international trade more efficiently.
This endeavor aligns with Colombia’s Vision 2030 strategy, which seeks to strengthen relationships with African nations. As part of this vision, the Vice President extended an invitation to the leadership of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) to participate in the African Trade Forum, set to be hosted by Colombia in March 2026. This forum aims to enhance trade dialogue and foster cooperation between African countries and Latin America, creating a platform for discussing mutual trade interests.
The visit also included a tour of key facilities at the Port of Tema. The delegation explored MPS Terminal 3, a state-of-the-art container terminal that handles international cargo, as well as the Fruit Terminal, which specializes in operations related to perishable products. Given that both Colombia and Ghana have significant export interests in fresh produce, the discussions around logistics and cold chain handling could pave the way for effective cooperation in these areas.
The dialogues during this visit underscored a mutual interest in enhancing maritime connectivity and exploring innovative logistics solutions. By successfully establishing a direct maritime route, both Colombia and Ghana could significantly improve trade flows, setting the stage for economic collaboration that benefits both regions. The ongoing discussions indicate a shared commitment to not just enhancing trade, but also forging a lasting partnership that could redefine economic ties between West Africa and Latin America.
Source: Logistics Update Africa