President Mahama Arrives in Seoul for 5-Day Economic Mission | Discuss Ghana

On Tuesday, March 10, 2026, President John Dramani Mahama arrived at the Air Force Base in Seoul to begin a five-day working visit to South Korea. He was received by a high-level delegation including the South Korean Ambassador to Ghana, Park Kyongsig, and Ghana’s Ambassador to South Korea, Kojo Choi.

This visit marks the first time a Ghanaian president has visited the Republic of Korea since the 2024 Korea-Africa Summit, and Mahama is the first African leader to be received by South Korean President Lee Jae-myung since he took office in June 2025.

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High-Level Diplomatic Engagements

The President’s itinerary is packed with diplomatic and industrial milestones:

Presidential Summit: On Wednesday afternoon, President Mahama will hold a summit with President Lee Jae-myung at Cheong Wa Dae (the Blue House).

Defense and Maritime Security: Discussions are expected to focus on trade, investment, maritime security, and for the first time, a major push for cooperation in the defense and arms industry.

Parliamentary Talks: Mahama will also meet with Woo Won-shik, the Speaker of the Korean National Assembly, to discuss strengthening parliamentary relations.

Agreements: The summit will be followed by a formal signing ceremony for several new Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) aimed at a "national reset" in technological exchange.

Industrial and Academic Highlights

A key focus of the trip is leveraging South Korea’s industrial expertise for Ghana’s development:

Hyundai Ship-Naming Ceremony: In Ulsan, the President will preside over a naming ceremony for a newly built vessel at Hyundai Heavy Industries, the world's largest shipyard. This highlights growing maritime ties and Ghana's interest in expanding its shipping fleet.

Yonsei University Speech: Mahama will deliver a keynote address at a conferment ceremony at the prestigious Yonsei University in Seoul.

$2 Billion Framework: The visit builds upon the $2 billion cooperation agreement signed in 2024, which already finances critical projects in Ghana's agriculture, health, and energy sectors.

Engaging the Diaspora and Business Leaders

The President is accompanied by a delegation including Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and Special Aide Joyce Bawah Mogtari. Together, they will host:

Business Dinner: A meeting with South Korean CEOs and business leaders to pitch investment opportunities in Ghana's emerging 24-hour economy.

Diaspora Interaction: An engagement with the Ghanaian community—comprising students, professionals, and workers—living in South Korea.