The Minority in Parliament has called for the immediate suspension of Ghana’s maritime shipping and port cooperation agreement with Colombia, citing concerns over the recent cocaine seizures linked to the country.

In a statement issued and signed by Samuel A. Jinapor, MP for Damongo and Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee on Thursday, October 1, 2026, the Minority Caucus said the developments raised national security concerns that required urgent assessment.

The Minority also called for the suspension of the bilateral visa-waiver arrangement between Ghana and Colombia and urged the government to submit both agreements to a comprehensive security review.

The Caucus said its concerns were heightened by the growing number of large-scale cocaine seizures linked to Ghana.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in its 2026 World Drug Report, identified Colombia, followed by Peru and Brazil, as the main departure countries for cocaine shipments globally between 2020 and 2024. The report also noted that cocaine from Colombia is primarily trafficked by sea.

The Minority further cited reports that Ghana ranked fifth among countries of origin for cocaine seized at the Port of Antwerp in Belgium in 2025.

Belgian customs data showed that Ghana was the only African country among the five countries listed, alongside Ecuador, Costa Rica, Brazil and Colombia. However, the designation refers to the country where the container was loaded and shipped and does not mean the cocaine was produced in Ghana.

The Minority said the situation required a review of Ghana’s bilateral arrangements with Colombia, particularly the maritime agreement connecting the Port of Tema with the Port of Cartagena.

“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 added that recent seizures had raised questions about the integrity of Ghana’s ports and could affect the country’s international reputation.

According to the Minority, the government should therefore suspend the implementation of the Ghana-Colombia visa-waiver arrangement and maritime and port cooperation agreements pending a security assessment.

“Our ports must remain gateways for legitimate trade, and not conduits for international criminal networks,” the statement said.

The Minority said it would continue to demand accountability and push for measures to protect Ghana’s security, institutions and national interest.