The Minority Caucus on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee has called on the government to immediately suspend Ghana’s maritime and port cooperation agreements with Colombia over concerns about recent large-scale cocaine seizures linked to Ghana.
In a statement signed by the Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and Damongo MP, Samuel Abu Jinapor, the Minority described the developments as an immediate national security concern.
The Caucus said the concerns had intensified following Ghana’s recent bilateral agreements with Colombia, including a mutual visa-waiver arrangement and a maritime trade agreement linking the Port of Tema to the Port of Cartagena.
To support its concerns, the Minority cited the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) World Drug Report 2026, published in June, which identified Colombia as the world’s leading departure country for cocaine shipments, with most of the drugs trafficked by sea.
It also referenced a JoyNews report published on September 29, 2026, which indicated that Belgian authorities had ranked Ghana as the fifth-largest country of origin for cocaine seized at the Port of Antwerp, a major entry point for cocaine into Europe.
According to the Minority, Ghana was the only African country and the only country outside Southern and Central America among the five countries identified in the report.
The Caucus said the repeated interception of multi-tonne cocaine consignments linked to Ghana, both locally and internationally, raised serious questions about the security implications of deepening cooperation with Colombia.
It warned that the recent seizures had already placed pressure on the integrity of Ghana’s ports and the country’s international reputation.
“Government must not compound these concerns by proceeding with such bilateral arrangements before the attendant risks have been properly assessed and addressed,” the statement said.
The Minority is therefore demanding an immediate suspension of the implementation of the Ghana-Colombia visa-waiver agreement and the maritime and port cooperation arrangements.
It has further called for a comprehensive security review of the entire framework, including the visa-waiver agreement, before the matter is brought before Parliament.
“Our ports must remain gateways for legitimate trade, and not conduits for international criminal networks,” the statement said.
“The security of our borders, the integrity of our institutions and the good name of the Republic must come first.”
The Minority reaffirmed its commitment to demanding accountability and protecting Ghana’s national security, public institutions and national interests.
