During bilateral discussions with the President of the Republic of Korea, Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama underscored the deep historical and diplomatic ties between Ghana and Korea, emphasizing the shared democratic values and commitment to human rights that bind the two nations.
President Mahama noted that despite the geographical distance between the two countries, Ghana and Korea maintain strong cooperation on global issues, often aligning their positions at the United Nations and other international platforms.
According to him, the relationship between the two countries is built not on proximity but on shared ideals. “Our relationship is not defined by the distance between our two countries, but rather by the similarity of the values we share,” he said.
Cultural and Diplomatic Connections
The Ghanaian leader also praised Ghana’s ambassador to Korea, Kojo Choi, describing him as a symbol of the cultural and diplomatic bridge between the two countries.
President Mahama noted that Ghanaians have followed the ambassador’s work through social media and are proud of the warm reception he has received in Korea.
Beyond diplomacy, the President highlighted growing cultural exchanges between the two nations.
He humorously mentioned that before leaving Ghana, someone asked him to bring back kimchi, the famous Korean dish, while many young Ghanaians including his own children enjoy listening to K-pop.
“These cultural connections bring our peoples closer together,” he said.
Strengthening Agricultural Cooperation
President Mahama also emphasized the importance of cooperation in agriculture and agribusiness as part of efforts to enhance food security in Ghana.
He commended the role of the Korea International Cooperation Agency in supporting Ghana’s rice production through the K-Rice Belt Project.
The initiative, he explained, is expected to introduce high-yield rice varieties that will significantly increase local production and help reduce Ghana’s dependence on rice imports.
Ghana as a Gateway to Africa
The President further highlighted opportunities for Korean investment through the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat, which is headquartered in Accra.
He described the African Continental Free Trade Area as a historic initiative creating a market of about 1.4 billion people across Africa.
“Our goal is to position Ghana as a hub for production and exports to the rest of Africa,” he said, noting that Ghana’s natural resources and human capital could combine with Korea’s technology and innovation to form a mutually beneficial partnership.
Value Addition in Cocoa and Minerals
President Mahama also stressed Ghana’s commitment to adding value to its natural resources, particularly cocoa.
While acknowledging challenges caused by climate change affecting cocoa production, he said Ghana aims to increase the processing of cocoa into products such as cocoa liquor and cocoa butter before export, creating greater economic value.
He also pointed to Ghana’s growing potential in critical minerals, including bauxite, manganese, gold, lithium, and nickel.
“Korea has the technology, and we believe we can explore these resources together not exporting them in their raw form, but adding value before exporting them to Korea and other markets,” he noted.
Maritime Security and Economic Recovery
The President highlighted maritime security as another area of cooperation, noting concerns over piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. He welcomed plans to sign a memorandum of understanding on maritime safety and cooperation between the two countries.
President Mahama also spoke about Ghana’s economic recovery flowing a recent financial crisis. He indicated that the country has successfully restructured its debt and is seeing improvements in inflation and currency stability.
As a result, Ghana hopes to once again access the Economic Development Cooperation Fund to support development projects.
Looking Ahead
To further deepen relations, the two countries are expected to sign a visa waiver agreement for holders of diplomatic and official passports to facilitate easier exchanges between government officials.
President Mahama concluded by reaffirming Ghana’s commitment to working with Korea and other partners to support reforms at the United Nations aimed at expanding global representation.
Story: Patrick Asford Boadu
