Rachel Quartey and Rukayatu Musah
Accra- Ghana – Vice President, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has underscored the country’s commitment to deepening cooperation with Colombia. She described the visit of Colombian Vice President Francia Elena Márquez Mina as a significant step toward strengthening South–South collaboration and advancing shared development goals. Welcoming her colleague to Accra, the Vice President said the friendship between Ghana and Colombia is rooted in shared values, mutual respect, and a common aspiration for progress. She expressed appreciation for Colombia’s renewed engagement with Africa and reaffirmed Ghana’s readiness to expand cooperation across multiple sectors.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang commended the joint efforts already underway in education, trade, tourism, and cultural exchange, including the presence of a high-level Colombian business delegation and the successful Trade and Investment Seminar hosted at the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC). She noted that Colombia’s expertise in biodiversity-based innovation aligns strongly with Ghana’s economic priorities and offers opportunities for new partnerships that can support long-term growth.
The Vice President welcomed the proposal to expand the ongoing language cooperation programme to include Ghanaian English teachers in Colombia, stating that such an initiative would deepen cross-cultural understanding and strengthen institutional capacity. She emphasised that educational exchange remains a key pillar of Ghana’s development strategy.
On cultural cooperation, Professor Opoku-Agyemang highlighted the shared Afro-descendant heritage that connects the two nations. She said this presents fertile ground for collaboration in heritage tourism, cultural preservation, creative industries and diaspora engagement.
She outlined potential initiatives such as joint documentation of Afro-diasporic history, support for festivals and artistic exchanges, and partnerships in crafts, music and gastronomy. These, she noted, would promote social inclusion, create jobs, and preserve cultural memory for future generations.
Addressing climate change, the Vice President expressed Ghana’s interest in working closely with Colombia on climate resilience, conservation and environmental governance. She stressed that developing countries must partner more intentionally to confront global environmental challenges, and said Ghana welcomes Colombian collaboration in areas such as forest conservation, biodiversity protection, and climate-smart agriculture.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang also reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to an inclusive and equitable global governance system—one that amplifies the voices of developing nations and promotes South-South cooperation as an engine for sustainable development.
She concluded by expressing confidence that the engagements held in Accra would elevate the partnership between Ghana and Colombia, driving mutual prosperity and addressing shared global challenges.
Colombia’s Vice President, Francia Elena Márquez Mina, reaffirmed her country’s commitment to strengthening relations with Ghana and the wider African continent, emphasizing shared history, cultural ties, and growing opportunities for cooperation.
She described the renewed engagement between Colombia and Africa as both historic and essential, noting that reconnecting with the continent is a priority for Colombia’s foreign policy. She said the deep cultural and ancestral links between African and Afro-descendant communities form a natural foundation for expanded collaboration.
Vice President Márquez highlighted the progress made in recent years, pointing to agreements signed between Ghana and Colombia in education, agriculture and tourism, which she said are opening fresh pathways for mutual development. She welcomed the opportunity to further deepen bilateral cooperation, describing Ghana as a key partner in Colombia’s efforts to strengthen South–South relations.
Touching on cultural diplomacy, the Colombian Vice President emphasized that collaboration in culture is fundamental to building lasting ties between the two nations. She noted that cultural exchanges help both countries share their heritage while promoting mutual learning.
She referenced recent initiatives aimed at strengthening cultural and spiritual connections, including music, dance, crafts and gastronomy. A newly signed Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries seeks to expand cultural and artistic cooperation, protect cultural heritage and enhance collaboration in education and technology.
As part of these efforts, Colombia will participate in Ghana’s Traditional Music Festival, celebrating expressions of African diaspora culture. Ghana has also been invited to take part in Colombia’s International Book Fair in 2026, an opportunity to showcase Ghanaian literature and creativity on an international platform.
Vice President Márquez further noted the growing collaboration on Spanish language education, highlighting ongoing efforts to support the teaching of Spanish to Ghanaian diplomats and promote broader educational partnerships.
She said these initiatives demonstrate the shared commitment of Ghana and Colombia to deepen their cultural, economic and diplomatic ties, fostering mutual respect and strengthening cooperation across both regions.
