South Korean President Lee Jae Myung held summit talks with Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama in Seoul on March 11, 2026, agreeing to expand bilateral cooperation in trade, maritime security, climate change, and agriculture. The meeting marks the first visit by an African leader since Lee took office in June 2025. The two nations signed agreements on climate cooperation and maritime security.
President Lee Jae Myung held summit talks with Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama in Seoul on March 11, 2026. The two leaders agreed to expand bilateral cooperation in trade, maritime security, climate change, and agriculture. Lee highlighted the growing trade and investment ties between the countries and expressed hope for further collaboration, describing Ghana as a major gateway to the African market.
In his opening remarks, Lee stated, "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." He added, "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."
Mahama arrived in South Korea on Tuesday for a five-day working visit, becoming the first African leader to visit since Lee took office in June 2025. Ghana is regarded as one of Africa's leading democracies and serves as a trade and logistics hub in West Africa, hosting the secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area launched in 2021.
Maritime security has been a key area of cooperation, given past incidents where South Korean sailors were kidnapped off Ghana's coast due to piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, a major shipping and energy trade route. Lee described Ghana as a "long-time friend," noting their shared history of overcoming colonial rule and dictatorship to become model democratic nations. The two countries will mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year.
Lee said, "The two countries have achieved remarkable results in cooperation across various fields, including maritime security, trade and agriculture. 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, the nations signed a pact on climate change cooperation to establish a legal framework for collaboration under their national climate action plans in line with the Paris Agreement. The Korea Coast Guard and the Ghanaian Navy signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on maritime security cooperation to enhance intelligence sharing on international maritime crimes, including piracy, weapons and drug smuggling, as well as maritime search and rescue operations.
They also signed another MOU on cooperation in projects related to technology, digital access, artificial intelligence and youth training.
Mahama described South Korea as a "friendly country that shares values," citing their similar democratic histories, and noted that young Ghanaians, including his own children, enjoy K-pop. He highlighted agriculture as an important pillar, praising South Korea's K-Ricebelt Project, which aims to improve food security in Africa through high-yield rice seeds.
Mahama suggested that Ghana's abundant natural resources and South Korea's advanced technologies could create strong synergies, including joint exploration of critical minerals like lithium and nickel. He welcomed the maritime security agreement to jointly tackle piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.
Lee prepared gifts for Mahama, including Ghana chocolate produced by Lotte Confectionery—specially designed with Mahama's name and the national flags of both countries, made with more than 80 percent Ghanaian cacao. This chocolate holds special meaning for Lee, as he received it from a child during his hunger strike in September 2023. He also gifted a Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, released last month, to showcase South Korea's technology, and a folk painting depicting naval training from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) to symbolize maritime security commitment.
