Ghana and Colombia have agreed to establish a direct maritime shipping link between the Port of Tema and the Port of Cartagena, aiming to expand trade between Africa and Latin America and reduce reliance on traditional transatlantic routes.
Ghana’s Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced the deal in Bogotá, highlighting potential reductions in shipping times and costs and improved market access for exporters.
The agreement also covers cooperation on port operations, customs systems, and infrastructure modernisation, enhancing efficiency and competitiveness. It builds on diplomatic momentum from Colombian Vice-President Francia Elena Márquez Mina’s December 2025 visit to Ghana.
Key developments:
• Direct shipping corridor offers faster, cheaper trade for cocoa, coffee, rice, sugar, and processed foods.
• Strengthens Tema’s role as a regional logistics hub and Colombia’s gateway into West Africa.
• Bilateral trade in 2025 was estimated at $3.2 million, highlighting growth potential.
• Ablakwa framed the deal as symbolic, transforming a historic Atlantic route into an opportunity for economic empowerment.
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