President John Dramani Mahama, on Wednesday, March 11, met with President of Korea, Lee Jae Myung, for summit talks, during which both leaders committed to strengthening bilateral collaboration in trade, maritime security, climate action, and agriculture.

During the discussions, President Lee highlighted the expanding trade and investment relationship between the two nations, describing Ghana as a key entry point to the African market. He expressed optimism about broadening cooperation across a range of strategic sectors.

"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," Lee said in his opening remarks.

"As a maritime nation bordering three West African countries, Ghana also serves as a reliable gateway for the Republic of Korea's entry into the African market," he added.

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President Lee also referred to Ghana as a “long-standing friend,” highlighting the shared history of both nations in overcoming colonialism and authoritarian rule to establish stable democracies.

He expressed optimism about building on this foundation, particularly as the two countries prepare to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year.

"The two countries have achieved remarkable results in cooperation across various fields, including maritime security, trade and agriculture," he said. "I hope that President Mahama's visit to South Korea will serve as an opportunity to generate tangible outcomes of cooperation that the peoples of both countries can truly feel."

During the summit, South Korea and Ghana signed agreements to strengthen collaboration in key areas. These included a climate change cooperation pact aligned with the Paris Agreement, a maritime security MOU between the Korea Coast Guard and Ghanaian Navy to improve intelligence sharing and joint operations, and a separate MOU to support projects in technology, digital access, artificial intelligence, and youth training.

Mahama described South Korea as a "friendly country that shares values," citing the two nations' similar democratic histories, and added that young Ghanaians, including his own children, enjoy K-pop.

He also cited agriculture as an important pillar of bilateral cooperation, highlighting South Korea's "K-Ricebelt Project," a major official development assistance initiative aimed at improving food security in Africa by producing high-yield rice seeds.

President Mahama highlighted that Ghana’s rich natural resources, combined with South Korea’s advanced technologies, could generate significant synergies, proposing joint initiatives in the exploration of key minerals such as lithium and nickel.