Mahama seeks stronger Ghana–Korea partnership in agriculture, minerals and trade

President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to deepening bilateral relations with the Republic of Korea, highlighting shared democratic values, economic cooperation and growing cultural connections between the two countries.

Speaking during bilateral talks with the South Korean President, Mahama said the relationship between Ghana and Korea has been strengthened by a common historical experience and a shared commitment to democratic governance and human rights.

“Talking about the historic relations between Ghana and Korea, we are proud of the shared values that bind our two countries. We share a similar historical background, a deep respect for democracy, and a strong commitment to human rights,” he said.

According to the President, these shared values have made it easier for both nations to cooperate on international platforms such as the United Nations.

“Ghana and Korea often find themselves taking similar positions on many issues at the United Nations and other international forums. Our relationship is not defined by the distance between our two countries, but rather by the similarity of the values we share,” Mahama added.

The Ghanaian leader also praised Ghana’s Ambassador to Korea, Kojo Choi, for strengthening diplomatic ties between the two countries.

“We are proud of our Ambassador, Kojo Choi, who embodies the values of both Ghana and Korea. Through social media we have been able to follow his activities since he arrived in Korea, and we are proud that he has been warmly accepted as a representative of our country,” he noted.

President Mahama also highlighted the growing cultural exchanges between the two nations, noting the influence of Korean culture among Ghanaian youth.

“Before I left Ghana, someone asked me to bring back kimchi. Our young people, including my own children, listen to K-pop music. These cultural connections bring our peoples closer together,” he said.

On economic cooperation, Mahama stressed the importance of collaboration in agriculture and agribusiness to strengthen Ghana’s food security. He commended the role of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in supporting rice production through the K-Rice Belt Project.

“Our cooperation with KOICA has been very important, particularly in increasing rice production through the K-Rice Belt Project. Rice has now become a staple food in Ghana, and we want to reduce the amount of rice we import,” he said.

The President also pointed to the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), whose secretariat is based in Accra, describing Ghana as a strategic hub for investment and exports across Africa.

“Our goal is to position Ghana as a hub for production and exports to the rest of Africa. Ghana has abundant natural and human resources, while Korea has technology and innovation. I believe we can bring these strengths together in a win-win partnership,” Mahama said.

Touching on Ghana’s cocoa industry, Mahama said the country is prioritising value addition to maximise revenue from its cocoa products.

“We want to create more value by processing cocoa into products such as cocoa liquor and cocoa butter for export, allowing other industries to turn them into finished products,” he explained.

He also highlighted Ghana’s potential in critical minerals such as lithium, nickel, bauxite and manganese, urging Korean investors to partner Ghana in processing these resources locally.

“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,” the President stated.

Mahama further stressed the importance of maritime security cooperation, particularly in addressing piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.

“Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea is a major concern, and we are pleased that one of the memoranda we will sign today focuses on maritime safety and cooperation,” he said.

The President also assured Korea that Ghana’s economy is recovering steadily after recent financial challenges.

“We have successfully restructured our debt, and our economy is now back on track. Inflation is declining, our currency has strengthened, and we are meeting our debt obligations,” Mahama noted.

He added that Ghana looks forward to renewed access to the Economic Development Cooperation Fund and the signing of a visa waiver agreement for diplomatic and official passport holders to facilitate exchanges between both countries.