Ghana and Colombia have agreed to establish a direct maritime shipping link between the Port of Tema and the Port of Cartagena, marking a significant step towards expanding trade between Africa and Latin America.
The agreement, reached in Bogotá and announced by Ghana’s foreign minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, is expected to reduce transit times and lower shipping costs while improving market access for exporters in both regions.
For decades, trade between Africa and Latin America has been limited by indirect shipping routes passing through Europe and North America, adding both time and expense. The new Tema–Cartagena corridor introduces a rare direct logistics connection, aimed at improving efficiency and competitiveness.
Beyond the shipping link, the agreement includes cooperation on port operations, customs systems and infrastructure modernisation, further strengthening the logistics chain between the two regions.
The move builds on growing diplomatic momentum between the two countries. In December 2025, Colombia’s Vice-President Francia Elena Márquez Mina visited Ghana to explore port investments and deepen commercial ties as part of Colombia’s broader strategy to expand its presence in Africa.
Despite diplomatic relations dating back to 1988, trade between Ghana and Colombia remains limited, valued at approximately $3.2 million in 2025. Current trade is largely concentrated in commodities such as cocoa and coffee.
Officials believe the new shipping route could unlock opportunities in agricultural products including rice, sugar and processed foods, while supporting broader value chain development.
For Colombia, the partnership offers access to West Africa’s growing consumer markets. For Ghana, it strengthens ambitions to position Tema as a regional logistics hub and gateway to Latin America.
Ablakwa described the agreement as both economic and symbolic, noting that the Atlantic route, once associated with the history of slavery, is now being reshaped into a pathway for opportunity, job creation and economic empowerment.