Accra, March 11, – President John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday held bilateral talks with President Lee Jae-Myung of South Korea in Seoul, with both leaders agreeing to strengthen cooperation in key sectors including trade, agriculture, climate change and maritime security.
The meeting formed part of President Mahama’s five-day working visit to South Korea, which began on Tuesday, March 10. The visit marks the first by an African leader since President Lee assumed office in June 2025.
President Mahama commended the longstanding relations between Ghana and South Korea, noting that the partnership was built on shared democratic values and a mutual commitment to human rights.
He said the relationship between the two countries was not defined by geographical distance but by the values they shared.
Touching on agriculture, the President said Ghana valued its collaboration with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), particularly through the K-Rice Belt Project, which aimed to increase rice production.
“We look forward to the availability of high-yielding rice varieties that will help us expand production. Rice has now become a staple food in Ghana and we want to reduce the amount of rice we import,” he said.
President Mahama also highlighted opportunities created by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), whose secretariat is located in Accra.
He said the continental trade agreement had created a market of about 1.4 billion people, adding that Ghana aimed to position itself as a production and export hub for the African market.
The President noted that Ghana possessed abundant natural and human resources while South Korea had advanced technology and innovation, stating that both countries could combine their strengths to build a mutually beneficial partnership.
“I believe we can bring these strengths together in a win-win partnership. We are also committed to adding value to our products,” he said.
President Mahama also highlighted Ghana’s intention to increase value addition in the cocoa sector by processing cocoa into products such as cocoa liquor and cocoa butter before export.
He noted that while cocoa production had faced fluctuations in recent years due to climate change, the country remained committed to expanding processing and strengthening the cocoa value chain.
The President further disclosed that Ghana was exploring its mineral resources, including bauxite, manganese, gold, lithium and nickel, and expressed interest in partnering with South Korea to add value to these resources before export.
On maritime security, President Mahama said Ghana attached great importance to cooperation with South Korea in addressing piracy and other security threats 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.
President Mahama also indicated that Ghana had begun to recover from its recent economic challenges following the successful restructuring of its debt.
“Our economy is back on track. Inflation is declining, the currency has strengthened, and we are meeting our debt obligations,” he said.
He expressed the hope that Ghana would once again access the Economic Development Cooperation Fund and welcomed the planned visa waiver agreement for diplomatic and official passport holders, which he said would facilitate exchanges between the two countries.
President Lee, for his part, noted the growing trade and investment ties between Ghana and South Korea and expressed optimism about expanding cooperation across several sectors.
He described Ghana as a strategic gateway to the African market and commended the country for its role in supporting the safety of Korean nationals operating in the Gulf of Guinea.
“Ghana is a country we are grateful to, as it has actively cooperated in ensuring the safety of Korean nationals in the Gulf of Guinea, where piracy threats persist,” President Lee said.
GHBUSS
March 11, 2026
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