Lee, Ghanaian president agree to boost cooperation in maritime securiy, climate change

▲ President Lee Jae Myung (R) holds hands with Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama ahead of their summit talks at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on March 11, 2026. (Yonhap)

▲ President Lee Jae Myung (3rd from R) holds summit talks with Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama (3rd from L) at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on March 11, 2026. (Yonhap)

Lee-Ghana-summit

Lee, Ghanaian president agree to boost cooperation in maritime securiy, climate change

By Kim Eun-jung

SEOUL, March 11 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung held summit talks with Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday and agreed to expand bilateral cooperation in trade, maritime security, climate change and agriculture.

In their talks, Lee noted the growing trade and investment ties between the two countries and expressed hope to further expand cooperation in various areas, describing Ghana as a major gateway to the African market.

"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.

Mahama arrived in South Korea on Tuesday for a five-day working visit, becoming the first African leader to visit the country 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 cooperation is one of the areas the two countries have worked on, as South Korean sailors have previously been kidnapped from ships off the coast of Ghana due to piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, a major shipping and energy trade route.

Lee also described Ghana as a "long-time friend," noting that the two countries share a similar history of overcoming colonial rule and dictatorship to become model democratic nations, and expressing hope to build on the momentum as the two countries will mark 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."

On the occasion of the summit, the two 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.

The two nations 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 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.

Mahama said Ghana's abundant natural resources and South Korea's advanced technologies could create strong synergies, suggesting joint exploration of critical minerals, including lithium and nickel.

He also welcomed the signing of the maritime security cooperation agreement to jointly tackle piracy threats in the Gulf of Guinea.

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