President John Dramani Mahama and his South Korean counterpart Lee Jae-myung held high-level talks in Seoul on Wednesday, culminating in the signing of several agreements aimed at strengthening cooperation in maritime security, climate action and digital innovation between Ghana and South Korea.
The meeting took place at the South Korean presidential office during Mahama’s ongoing working visit to the Asian nation.
At the end of the talks, both sides signed a number of agreements designed to deepen bilateral collaboration, particularly in maritime security, climate change mitigation and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
One of the key outcomes was a memorandum of understanding between the Korea Coast Guard and the Ghana Navy to enhance cooperation in maritime safety and security.
The agreement provides for joint training, educational exchanges and seminars to strengthen maritime enforcement capacity. It also establishes a framework for intelligence sharing on transnational maritime crimes, including piracy, arms trafficking and drug smuggling, as well as cooperation in search-and-rescue operations involving vessels, aircraft and personnel in distress.
South Korean officials said the arrangement is expected to contribute to improved stability in the Gulf of Guinea by strengthening the maritime security capabilities of the Ghana Navy and improving the protection of vessels and nationals operating in the region.
The Gulf of Guinea has long been considered one of the world’s piracy-prone maritime zones, an issue closely monitored by international shipping operators, including South Korean commercial fleets and energy carriers that transit the waters.
In 2018, three South Korean nationals were kidnapped by pirates in waters near Ghana, prompting South Korea to deploy the Cheonghae Unit from the Gulf of Aden as part of an emergency response operation.
Beyond maritime security, the two governments also concluded a framework agreement on climate change cooperation. The deal outlines collaboration on climate initiatives, scientific research and technology exchange, as well as the use of emissions reduction mechanisms under the Paris Agreement.
Officials in Seoul said the arrangement would create a legal basis for both countries to pursue joint climate action and support their respective nationally determined contributions under the global climate accord. Under Article 6.2 of the agreement, countries can cooperate on emissions reductions through the transfer of carbon reduction outcomes, known as Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes.
Ghana and South Korea also signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in digital technology and innovation, including emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence.
Symbolic gifts reflecting the areas of cooperation were also presented during the visit.
Among them was a traditional Korean folding screen depicting “Sugun Joryeondo,” a folk painting showing warships arranged in formation during a naval drill in the era of the Joseon Dynasty.
South Korean officials said the gift symbolised the maritime focus of the visit, particularly Mahama’s planned participation in a ship-naming ceremony.
The Ghanaian leader is expected to travel to Ulsan to attend the naming ceremony of a vessel at the shipyard of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries. The vessel is believed to be intended for transporting liquefied petroleum gas supplies to Ghana.
Mahama was also presented with a Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra smartphone from Samsung Electronics as a symbol of South Korea’s technological capability and industrial competitiveness.
Adding a cultural element to the reception, the Korean presidential office included Ghana Chocolate produced by Lotte among the gifts presented to the visiting leader. The product, widely recognised in South Korea, is made largely with cocoa beans sourced from Ghana, which account for more than 80 percent of the cocoa used in its production.
Specially prepared chocolates bearing the national flags of both countries and the name of the Ghanaian president were also placed at Mahama’s accommodation to mark the visit.
Mahama’s trip to South Korea forms part of efforts by both countries to deepen economic cooperation and expand partnerships in strategic sectors, including maritime security, technology and climate action.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
