Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia shaking hands with Francia Marquez Mina, Vice President of Colombia after bilateral talks at the Jubilee House.
The governments of Ghana and Colombia have resolved to deepen the relations between the two countries.
It follows the visit of the Colombian Vice President, Francia Elena Márquez Mina to Ghana, leading to the signing of some Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) between the two countries at the Jubilee House yesterday.
The Government of Ghana is therefore making frantic effort to open an embassy in Colombia.
It has also approved plans to become an observer-member of the Pacific Alliance, comprising Latin American nations like Colombia, Peru, Chile and Mexico to boost investment opportunities.
This came to light when the Colombian Vice President called on Vice President Bawumia at the Jubilee House yesterday.
Márquez Mina is the first female Vice President of Colombia with an African descent to visit Ghana.
The two-day visit took her to the Elmina and Cape Coast castles on a guided tour after her meeting with Dr. Bawumia yesterday.
She is also expected to pay a courtesy call on Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II today, Thursday, September 7 to strengthen her country’s cultural ties with the Asante Kingdom and Ghana at large.
Mina is equally expected to sign a bilateral agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration and hold discussions with the Colombian Community in Ghana as well as interact with Ghanaian businessmen and women and investors in Accra today.
At a joint press conference at the Jubilee House yesterday, Vice President Bawumia expressed joy in the fact that Márquez Mina is the first female Vice President of Colombia with an African heritage.
He expressed the government’s commitment to strengthen cooperation with Colombia in agriculture, tourism, digital technology and education, especially how to teach Ghanaian diplomats to learn Spanish.
Dr. Bawumia referred to the long-standing bilateral cooperation between the two countries, with Colombia formally cementing the relation by opening an embassy in Ghana in 2013.
He said Ghana had signed several Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with Colombia, which were at different stages of implementation.
On her part, the visiting Colombian Vice President said her country valued its bilateral relationship with Ghana and would continue to work to deepen it.
She said Colombia appreciated the important role Ghana played in seeking reparation for Africans as a result of the slave trade and reconnecting Africans in the diaspora to their roots.
She said the two countries could work together not only for their mutual good, but also for the peace and security of the world.
On the issue of climate change, the Colombian Vice President said even though Ghana and Colombia were not the major cause of it, they have the responsibility to ensure the phenomenon was dealt with in earnest to ensure environmental sustainability and stable temperature.
She said the impact of climate change makes it imperative for poor countries who were feeling the pinch to push for debt cancelation to reduce the burden on their peoples.
She said Ghana must use her influence on the African continent to get the African Union take the issues of climate change more seriously.
The Colombian Vice President welcomed Ghana’s decision to apply for an observer status of the Pacific Alliance, and stressed that it would enable Ghana to understand issues from the Latin American region better.
She expressed the need for the two nations to strengthen their bilateral relationship, especially within the context of the role Ghana was playing at the United Nations Security Council.
In the area of agriculture, Ms. Márquez Mina said Colombia was ready to share its vast experience with Ghana, to enable the country develop its agriculture base.
“I know in the area of agriculture, Ghana is looking at how to become self sufficient in rice production. This is one area that Colombia is willing to help,” she assured.
 By Charles Takyi-Boadu, Presidential Correspondent