BY Issah Olegor
President John Dramani Mahama is departing Accra on Sunday, March 10, 2026, for a five-day working visit to the Republic of Korea, as part of efforts by the Ghanaian government to strengthen diplomatic ties and expand economic cooperation with the Asian nation.
The visit, which will run until March 14, comes at a time when global attention is focused on escalating tensions in the Middle East, raising questions about the potential economic implications for countries heavily dependent on imported energy, including Ghana.
The trip was announced in an official statement issued by the spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, who indicated that the visit forms part of ongoing diplomatic and economic engagements aimed at deepening bilateral relations between the two countries.
According to the statement, President Mahama will hold high-level bilateral discussions with the President of South Korea, Lee Jae-myung, where both leaders are expected to deliberate on areas of mutual interest including trade, investment, technology cooperation and industrial development.
President Mahama will also meet with the Speaker of the South Korean legislature, Woo Won-shik, in talks expected to focus on strengthening parliamentary relations and fostering collaboration between the legislative bodies of both countries.
Economic And Industrial Engagements
A key highlight of the President’s visit will be his participation in a ship-naming ceremony at the Hyundai shipyard in Ulsan, operated by global shipbuilding giant Hyundai Heavy Industries.
The shipyard is regarded as one of the largest and most technologically advanced shipbuilding facilities in the world and has long been a symbol of South Korea’s industrial transformation.
President Mahama is also scheduled to deliver a speech at a conferment ceremony at Yonsei University, one of South Korea’s most prestigious academic institutions. The address is expected to highlight the economic transformation agenda and explore opportunities for collaboration between African and Asian institutions in education, research and technology.
Engagement With Ghanaian Community
Beyond the official diplomatic and industrial engagements, President Mahama will interact with members of the Ghanaian community living in South Korea.
The event will bring together Ghanaian students, professionals and workers residing in the country and provide them an opportunity to engage directly with the President on issues affecting the diaspora.
The visit will also include a dinner meeting with South Korean business leaders, chief executives and investors. The meeting is intended to promote Ghana as an attractive investment destination while strengthening economic partnerships between Ghanaian and Korean businesses.
Government officials say discussions with business leaders will focus on expanding cooperation in sectors such as manufacturing, infrastructure, technology, maritime development and energy.
Visit Amid Global Security Concerns
President Mahama’s trip comes against the backdrop of escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East involving the United States, Israel and Iran. The developments have heightened fears of disruptions to global oil supply routes, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant share of the world’s oil exports passes daily.
Only days earlier, during bilateral engagements with Samia Suluhu Hassan in Arusha, Mahama cautioned that a further escalation of the conflict to Gulf states could lead to a surge in global oil prices and increase the cost of living in Ghana.
The President explained that the heavy reliance on imported petroleum products makes the country vulnerable to global energy price fluctuations, which could affect transport costs, food prices and general economic activity.
Ghana–South Korea Relations
Diplomatic relations between Ghana and South Korea date back several decades and have gradually expanded to include cooperation in trade, development assistance, education and technology. South Korea has supported a number of infrastructure and development initiatives in Ghana through both government programmes and private sector investments.
Ghana has also shown increasing interest in learning from South Korea’s rapid industrialisation model, which transformed the country from a developing economy into one of the world’s leading manufacturing and technological powers.
Expanding Ghana’s Global Partnerships
The working visit forms part of Ghana’s broader diplomatic strategy to deepen partnerships with emerging economic powers in Asia.
