The Minority in Parliament has called for the suspension of Ghana's maritime and port cooperation arrangements with Colombia, as well as the bilateral visa-waiver agreement between the two countries. This demand was made in a statement issued on Thursday, October 1, 2026, by the Minority Caucus on the Foreign Affairs Committee. The Caucus expressed concerns about national security, citing recent seizures of large quantities of cocaine allegedly linked to Ghana.
The Minority Caucus raised concerns about Ghana's growing cooperation with Colombia, including a maritime agreement signed in March 2026. This agreement aims to establish direct connectivity between the Port of Tema and Colombia's Port of Cartagena, facilitating trade and improving logistics links between Africa and Latin America. However, the Minority argued that Colombia's position in the international cocaine trade warranted a fresh security assessment of the arrangement.
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime's 2026 World Drug Report, Colombia is one of the leading departure countries for cocaine shipments globally between 2020 and 2024. The report also indicates that the majority of cocaine leaving Colombia is transported by sea. The Minority cited this information to support their call for a comprehensive national security assessment of Ghana's agreements with Colombia.
The Minority is asking the government to undertake a comprehensive national security assessment of Ghana's agreements with Colombia before allowing their implementation to continue. They also want the bilateral visa-waiver arrangement and the maritime and port cooperation agreements suspended pending the outcome of the review. Furthermore, the Minority wants the entire framework of Ghana-Colombia cooperation, including the visa-waiver agreement, brought before Parliament for a comprehensive security assessment.
The recent cocaine seizures have heightened concerns about the effectiveness of security measures at Ghana's ports. The Minority said it would continue to push for accountability and measures it considers necessary to protect Ghana's national security, institutions, and interests. The Caucus emphasized that Ghana's ports must remain gateways for legitimate trade, not conduits for international criminal networks.
The Minority's call for suspension and review of Ghana-Colombia agreements comes as a proactive measure to address potential security threats. The Caucus believes that prudence and good governance demand a thorough assessment of the arrangements to ensure they do not compromise Ghana's national security. This move is expected to prompt urgent action from the government to address the concerns raised.
The issue has sparked concerns about the potential risks associated with Ghana's growing cooperation with Colombia. The Minority's demands are aimed at ensuring that Ghana's national security is not compromised. The government is expected to respond to the Minority's calls and undertake a comprehensive review of the agreements to address the concerns raised.
Key points
- The Minority in Parliament is demanding the suspension of Ghana's maritime and port cooperation arrangements with Colombia due to national security concerns over cocaine seizures.
- The recent cocaine seizures have heightened concerns about the effectiveness of security measures at Ghana's ports.
- The Minority wants a comprehensive national security assessment of Ghana's agreements with Colombia before allowing their implementation to continue.
