South Korea and Ghana Step Up Climate Cooperation, Share Information on Piracy and Drugs

President Lee Jae-myung of South Korea held a summit with President John Dramani Mahama of the Republic of Ghana at Cheong Wa Dae on the 11th during Mahama’s working visit to South Korea. President Mahama is the first African head of state to be hosted since President Lee took office. On the occasion of the summit, the two countries signed three instruments in total: an Agreement on Climate Change Cooperation and two Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) aimed at strengthening cooperation in maritime security and the digital sector.
During the summit at Cheong Wa Dae, President Lee said, “South Korea and the Republic of Ghana will mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year, making us very old friends. In having achieved a model of democracy, our Republic of Korea and Ghana resemble each other in many ways.”
He went on, “Ghana has been a truly appreciated partner, actively cooperating to protect the safety of South Korean nationals in the Gulf of Guinea, where the threat of piracy is ever-present. As a maritime nation bordering three West African countries, Ghana serves as a solid bridgehead for the Republic of Korea’s entry into African markets.” Ghana is a central hub for trade and logistics in West Africa and hosts the secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which was launched in 2021.
President Lee particularly noted, “Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1977, trade volume between our two countries has increased by about 38 times, and many of our companies are now actively operating in Ghana, mainly in manufacturing and the agriculture and fisheries sectors. Recently, we have also been jointly developing a large-scale rice cultivation complex, where we plan to start producing Korean rice varieties from next year. Our two countries have been reaping remarkable fruits of cooperation in various fields, including maritime security, trade and agriculture.”
The specially made Ghana Chocolate that President Lee prepared as a gift for President Mahama also drew much attention at the summit. President Lee recalled, “Even before our two countries formally established diplomatic relations, chocolate made with cocoa produced in Ghana was first launched in South Korea in 1975,” adding, “This chocolate has continued to bring sweet happiness to our people for nearly 50 years. Last night I sent you Ghana Chocolate made with cocoa imported from Ghana as a separate gift, and I hope you found it to your liking.” In response, President Mahama said, “We received the chocolate gift you gave us yesterday, and our entire delegation enjoyed it very much this morning.” He added, “I also brought some chocolate from Ghana, and I hope this will be a time for our two countries to share sweetness with each other.”
On the occasion of the summit, the two countries signed three treaties and MOUs. First, by concluding the Agreement on Climate Change Cooperation, they established a legal foundation to strengthen bilateral cooperation on climate change and agreed to contribute to achieving each country’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for greenhouse gas reduction. Through the Memorandum of Understanding on Maritime Security Cooperation (MOU), they will exchange information on international crimes at sea, including piracy and the smuggling of weapons and drugs, in order to enhance stability in the Gulf of Guinea and improve conditions for preventing accidents and responding to crises involving South Korean nationals and vessels. In addition, under the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Technology, Digital and Innovation Development (MOU), the two sides will step up future-oriented cooperation in areas such as education and vocational training in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital skills for young talent.
President Lee said, “Recently, Ambassador Choe Go-jo, a second-generation immigrant of Korean descent, has taken up the post of Ambassador to the Republic of Korea,” adding, “I understand that our culture—such as films, food and cosmetics—is greatly loved in Ghana. I hope that your visit to South Korea will lead to tangible cooperation outcomes that people in both countries can truly feel.”
President Mahama responded, “Someone asked me to buy some Kimchi in South Korea, and many young people, including my own children, like Korean popular music (K-pop). This is making the relationship between our peoples even closer.” He continued, “Like other African countries, Ghana has very high potential in the field of critical minerals. Recently, Lithium deposits have been discovered, and we also possess minerals such as Nickel. As South Korea is a country with advanced technology, Ghana hopes to work together with South Korea on the exploration of these critical minerals and to achieve even greater shared outcomes along the value chain.”
cjk@fnnews.com Choi Jong-geun and Sung Seok-woo Reporter