The Vice President of Colombia, Francia Elena Márquez Mina, has led a high-level business delegation to the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) to explore investment opportunities and strengthen bilateral trade relations between Colombia and Ghana.
The delegation was warmly received on behalf of the Director-General of GPHA by Mr. Tebon Zumah, Director of the Port of Tema, alongside other senior officials of the Authority.
The visit
The visit focused on identifying areas of mutual business interest while promoting economic and commercial cooperation. Vice President Márquez Mina highlighted the pivotal role of ports in national economic development, and emphasised the need for closer collaboration between Colombian and Ghanaian ports to drive shared prosperity.
“Colombia is pursuing a vision to reconnect with the world through strategic trade partnerships, and Ghana occupies a special place in that vision due to our historical and cultural ties,” she said. The Vice President indicated Colombia’s interest in exporting goods to Ghana, and establishing a direct maritime route between the two countries. She proposed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise cooperation between Colombian and Ghanaian ports.
Vice President Márquez Mina also extended an invitation to GPHA to participate in an African Trade Forum scheduled to be hosted by Colombia in March 2026. She noted the symbolic significance of transforming historical maritime routes, once associated with the transatlantic slave trade, into modern pathways of trade and partnership.
Commitment
In response, Mr. Tebon Zumah reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to efficient port operations as a foundation for international trade. He welcomed proposals for exchange programmes between Ghanaian ports and their Colombian counterparts.
He emphasised Ghana’s strategic location as a gateway to landlocked West African countries, including Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, highlighting potential opportunities for trade and tourism development through passenger vessel services.
During the visit, Vice President Márquez Mina and her delegation toured key facilities at the Port of Tema, including Meridian Port Services (MPS) Terminal 3 and the Fruit Terminal, observing ongoing operations and exploring areas for potential investment.
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