Ghana's Minority Caucus on Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee has demanded the immediate suspension of the country's maritime and port cooperation arrangement with Colombia. The call, led by Ranking Member Samuel A. Jinapor, cites serious national security concerns. The Minority also wants the bilateral visa-waiver arrangement between Ghana and Colombia to be halted without delay. This move comes after international data raised questions about Ghana's links to international smuggling networks.
The Minority Caucus based its concerns on a UN report and Belgian port data. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime's World Narcotics Report 2026, published in June, identifies Colombia as the leading departure country for illicit shipments by sea. Additionally, Belgian authorities at the Port of Antwerp ranked Ghana as the fifth-largest country of origin for seized contraband. Ghana is the only African country and the only nation outside South and Central America to appear in that top five, which the Minority finds particularly troubling.
The Minority Caucus is pushing for a comprehensive national-security assessment of the Ghana-Colombia arrangement before it is allowed to remain in operation. They argue that prudence and good governance demand this assessment. The Caucus also wants the entire framework governing the agreements, including the visa-waiver component, to be submitted to Parliament for a full security review before further implementation.
The Minority framed their demand within a broader concern that Ghana's ports risk becoming conduits for international criminal networks rather than gateways for legitimate commerce. The Caucus emphasized that the security of Ghana's borders, the integrity of its institutions, and the country's good name must come first. This call builds on an earlier push by the Minority to recall Parliament to address concerns that Ghana is being used as a transit point for illicit goods moving internationally.
The concerns raised by the Minority Caucus are not isolated. President John Dramani Mahama had earlier directed the formation of an inter-agency task force to draw up a concrete plan to stop narcotics smuggling through Ghana's borders. This directive came out of an emergency meeting Mahama chaired with senior security officials on September 17, 2026. The task force has been given a two-week window to present a detailed roadmap of recommended measures.
The Minority Caucus said it would continue pressing for accountability and measures to protect Ghana's security and reputation abroad. The Caucus is determined to ensure that Ghana's ports and borders are secure and not used for illicit activities. The call for suspension and review of the Ghana-Colombia arrangement is part of a broader effort to safeguard the country's national security and interests.
The issue has raised concerns about the potential risks of Ghana's growing maritime trade with Colombia. The country's ports and borders must be secure to prevent the smuggling of illicit goods. The government and Parliament must work together to address these concerns and ensure that Ghana's national security is protected. The Minority Caucus's call for suspension and review is a step in this direction.
Key points
- The Minority Caucus on Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee has called for the immediate suspension of Ghana's maritime and port cooperation arrangement with Colombia due to national security concerns.
- The concerns are based on international data, including a UN report and Belgian port data, which raised questions about Ghana's links to international smuggling networks.
- The Minority Caucus is pushing for a comprehensive national-security assessment of the Ghana-Colombia arrangement and a full security review of the framework governing the agreements.
