Minority demands immediate suspension of Ghana-Colombia maritime deal over cocaine concerns

The Minority Caucus on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee is seeking an immediate suspension of Ghana’s maritime and port cooperation deal with Colombia due to mounting concerns over cocaine trafficking. The Caucus argues that the agreement poses a significant national security threat, as large-scale seizures of cocaine linked to Ghana surge.

In a statement, the Minority’s Ranking Member Samuel A. Jinapor calls for the suspension of the bilateral visa-waiver arrangement between Ghana and Colombia, as well as a comprehensive security review of the entire framework of agreements. The Caucus highlights Ghana’s increasing ties to the international cocaine trade, referencing Colombia as the world’s leading departure country for cocaine shipments and Ghana as the only African country in the top five for cocaine seized at the port of Antwerp.

The Minority emphasizes that the situation demands prudence and good governance, with the country’s ports serving as legitimate trade gateways and not conduits for criminal networks.