The Minority in Parliament has called for the suspension of Ghana’s maritime shipping and port cooperation agreement with Colombia following recent cocaine seizures linked to the country.
In a statement signed by Damongo MP and Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee Samuel A. Jinapor on Thursday, October 1, 2026, the Minority also called for the suspension of the Ghana-Colombia visa-waiver arrangement pending a comprehensive security assessment.
“Prudence and good governance demand a comprehensive national-security assessment of that arrangement before it is permitted to remain in operation,” the Caucus said.
The Minority said the growing number of large-scale cocaine seizures had raised concerns about the security of Ghana’s ports and could affect the country’s international reputation.
It cited the UNODC’s 2026 World Drug Report, which identified Colombia, Peru and Brazil as the main departure countries for global cocaine shipments between 2020 and 2024, with Colombian cocaine mainly trafficked by sea.
The Caucus also cited Belgian customs data showing Ghana ranked fifth among countries of origin for cocaine seized at the Port of Antwerp in 2025. The classification refers to where containers were loaded and shipped and does not mean the cocaine was produced in Ghana.
“Our ports must remain gateways for legitimate trade, and not conduits for international criminal networks,” the statement said.
The Minority is urging a review of the agreements, particularly the maritime arrangement linking the ports of Tema and Cartagena.
