Ghana

Mahama, South Korea’s Lee Jae-Myung Strengthen Ghana–Korea Ties with Maritime, Climate and Tech Agreements

President John Dramani Mahama has held bilateral talks with South Korean President Lee Jae‑Myung in Seoul, with both leaders agreeing on several initiatives aimed at deepening cooperation between Ghana and South Korea in key sectors such as maritime security, climate action and digital innovation.

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The high-level meeting took place on Wednesday at the South Korean presidential office during President Mahama’s working visit to Seoul. At the end of the talks, the two governments signed a series of agreements designed to strengthen bilateral collaboration and enhance economic and security partnerships.

One of the key agreements signed was a memorandum of understanding between the Korea Coast Guard and the Ghana Navy. The agreement is expected to improve cooperation in maritime safety and security through joint training programmes, seminars and educational exchanges.

The arrangement also creates a platform for both countries to share intelligence on transnational maritime crimes, including piracy, arms trafficking and drug smuggling. In addition, it will support joint search-and-rescue operations involving distressed ships, aircraft and personnel at sea.

Officials in Seoul said the partnership would help strengthen security in the Gulf of Guinea by boosting the operational capacity of the Ghana Navy and enhancing the safety of vessels operating in the region.

The Gulf of Guinea has long been regarded as one of the world’s piracy-prone maritime zones, posing risks to international shipping companies, including South Korean commercial fleets and energy carriers that frequently sail through the area.

Maritime cooperation between the two countries dates back several years. In 2018, three South Korean nationals were kidnapped by pirates in waters near Ghana, prompting the deployment of the Cheonghae naval unit from the Gulf of Aden as part of a rescue response. Earlier, in 2010, South Korea transferred a decommissioned Chamsuri-class patrol boat to Ghana as part of defence cooperation.

Beyond maritime security, both governments also signed a framework agreement on climate change cooperation aligned with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. The deal will allow the two countries to collaborate on climate research, technology transfer and emissions reduction programmes.

Officials explained that the framework will enable Ghana and South Korea to work together under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement, which allows countries to exchange carbon reduction outcomes, known as Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes.

Another memorandum of understanding was signed to promote collaboration in digital technology and innovation, including emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence.

Symbolic gifts were also exchanged during the visit. President Mahama was presented with a traditional Korean folding screen depicting “Sugun Joryeondo,” a historical painting showing warships in formation during naval drills of the Joseon dynasty.

The Ghanaian leader is also expected to travel to Ulsan to attend a ship-naming ceremony at the shipyard of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, where a vessel believed to be intended for transporting liquefied petroleum gas supplies to Ghana is being built.

Among the gifts presented to the Ghanaian president was the newly released Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra smartphone, symbolising South Korea’s technological advancement.

Adding a cultural touch to the visit, South Korean officials also presented chocolates made with Ghanaian cocoa, including the popular Lotte Ghana Chocolate, which is widely sold in South Korea and produced largely with cocoa beans sourced from Ghana.

President Mahama’s visit forms part of ongoing efforts by both countries to expand economic cooperation and build stronger partnerships in strategic sectors such as maritime security, technology and climate action.