President John Dramani Mahama is set to undertake a working visit to the Republic of Korea from 10 to 14 March 2026 as part of ongoing efforts to deepen diplomatic relations and strengthen economic cooperation between Ghana and Asian partners.
The visit, which begins with his departure from Accra on Sunday, will involve a series of high-level meetings and engagements aimed at expanding bilateral collaboration in areas such as industry, technology, and trade.
A statement issued by the Presidency Communications Office on 8 March 2026 confirmed that the president will hold a bilateral meeting with the President of the Republic of Korea, Lee Jae Myung.
The meeting is expected to focus on strengthening relations between the two countries while exploring new opportunities for cooperation that can support Ghana’s development priorities.
During the visit, President Mahama will also meet with the Speaker of the Korean National Assembly, Woo Won shik. The engagement will provide an opportunity to strengthen parliamentary relations between Ghana and South Korea while reinforcing diplomatic ties that support cooperation at multiple levels of governance.
A Ship Naming Ceremony at the Hyundai Shipyard
One of the major activities scheduled during the visit is the president’s participation in a ship naming ceremony at the Hyundai Shipyard in Ulsan. The event highlights Ghana’s growing engagement with international industrial partners, particularly in sectors related to maritime development and global trade.
In addition, President Mahama will deliver a speech at a conferment ceremony at Yonsei University. The event will bring together members of the academic community and is expected to focus on strengthening international collaboration in education, research, and innovation.
The president will also use the opportunity to connect with the Ghanaian community in South Korea. An evening event has been scheduled to allow him to meet with Ghanaians living, studying, and working in the country.
The engagement is expected to provide a platform for dialogue between the government and members of the diaspora while encouraging their continued contribution to Ghana’s development.
Dinner Meeting with Business Leaders
Another important component of the visit will be a dinner meeting with chief executives and business owners in South Korea. The meeting will serve as an opportunity to discuss investment prospects and encourage Korean companies to explore partnerships with Ghanaian institutions and industries.
Government officials say the visit forms part of a broader diplomatic strategy aimed at strengthening Ghana’s economic engagement with Asian countries.
Since assuming office in 2025, President Mahama has undertaken a number of high-profile international visits designed to attract investment and build partnerships that support industrial growth.
In August 2025, the president made history by becoming the first Ghanaian leader to undertake a state visit to Singapore. The visit resulted in several investment agreements valued at more than one billion United States dollars across sectors, including ports, aviation, finance, and agribusiness.
Among the major outcomes of that visit was a two-hundred-million-dollar investment commitment from OLAM for the development of new processing plants in Ghana. The investment was intended to strengthen agro-processing capacity while supporting value addition within the agricultural sector.
Later that same month, President Mahama travelled to Japan where he participated in the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development in Yokohama. During the conference, he held bilateral discussions with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on infrastructure development and technology cooperation.
The discussions included potential collaboration on major infrastructure projects such as the proposed Volivo Bridge. The leaders also explored opportunities to support youth training programmes in emerging fields including artificial intelligence and biotechnology.
In October 2025, the President undertook a five day state visit to China at the invitation of President Xi Jinping. During that visit, he participated in the Global Leaders Meeting on Women in Beijing and also visited Fujian Province to engage with several Chinese industrial partners.
The president held discussions with companies including NetDragon Websoft and the Sentuo Group as part of efforts to attract investment in technology, manufacturing, and digital innovation.
Officials say those discussions also focused on Ghana’s broader economic transformation agenda. Key topics included support for the government’s proposed 24 hour economy initiative as well as cooperation on environmentally sustainable industrial development.
Positioning Ghana as an Attractive Investment Destination
These international engagements are intended to position Ghana as an attractive destination for investment while strengthening partnerships that support technology transfer and skills development.
The upcoming visit to the Republic of Korea is therefore expected to build on the progress made through earlier diplomatic engagements in Asia. South Korea is widely recognised for its technological advancement and industrial development, making it an important partner for countries seeking to modernise their economies.
Government representatives say the discussions and engagements planned during the visit will focus on identifying practical areas of cooperation that can support Ghana’s industrial growth and economic development.
The statement announcing the visit was signed by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Member of Parliament and Spokesperson to the President, who also serves as Minister for Government Communications.
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