Mahama made the remarks during a five-day working visit to South Korea where he held talks with the country’s president, Lee Jae Myung, on expanding cooperation in areas including technology, climate action, maritime security and trade.
“We look forward to signing visa waiver agreement with Korea for diplomatic passports and official passports. This will make it easier for exchanges between our two countries,” the president said.
Visa waiver agreements allow travellers from participating countries to enter another country without obtaining a traditional visa, usually for short visits. In this case, the proposed arrangement would apply to government officials and diplomats travelling between Ghana and South Korea.
According to the Passport Index, Ghana has already signed visa-waiver agreements with about 45 countries, helping to ease travel for diplomats and government officials and strengthen international engagement.
If the agreement with South Korea is concluded, the Asian country would join nations such as China, Germany, Brazil, South Africa, Morocco and India, which already maintain reciprocal visa-free arrangements with Ghana for diplomatic and service passport holders.
The Ghanaian passport is ranked 69th globally in 2026, reflecting gradual improvements in visa access and diplomatic mobility for the West African nation.
Following talks between the two leaders, officials from both countries witnessed the signing of three cooperation agreements covering climate change, digital innovation and maritime security.
The deals include a climate-change cooperation accord, a memorandum of understanding on technology and digital innovation, and a maritime safety and security agreement between the Korea Coast Guard and the Ghana Navy.
President Lee expressed appreciation to the Ghana Navy for its role in protecting South Korean nationals and commercial interests in the Gulf of Guinea, a region that has faced persistent piracy and maritime crime in recent years.
He said the new maritime agreement would strengthen joint efforts to maintain security in the region.
Minerals and economic cooperation
Mahama also highlighted Ghana’s rich mineral resources, including bauxite, manganese, gold, lithium and nickel, and said the country was interested in partnering with South Korea to develop these resources and expand cooperation across mineral value chains.
Demand for minerals such as lithium and nickel has increased globally in recent years as countries invest in electric vehicles, batteries and clean energy technologies, making Africa’s resource-rich economies increasingly important to global supply chains.
Economic ties between Ghana and South Korea have steadily expanded over the decades. Korean companies including Samsung, LG Electronics, Hyundai and Kia have built a strong presence in Ghana’s consumer electronics and automotive markets.
Bilateral trade largely involves Ghana exporting commodities such as cocoa and mineral resources, while importing machinery, vehicles and technology products from South Korea.
Development cooperation has also been an important part of the relationship. Through agencies such as the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF), South Korea has supported projects in Ghana in sectors including agriculture, education, healthcare, infrastructure and digital technology.
Ghana and South Korea established diplomatic relations in 1977, and both countries maintain embassies in each other’s capitals, Ghana in Seoul and South Korea in Accra.
During the visit, Mahama is also expected to meet Woo Won-shik, Speaker of South Korea’s National Assembly, and engage members of the Ghanaian community living in the country.
Other activities on the president’s schedule include attending a ship-naming ceremony at Hyundai Heavy Industries in Ulsan and participating in an academic conferment ceremony at Yonsei University, one of South Korea’s leading universities.
The visit is expected to conclude with a meeting and dinner with South Korean business leaders aimed at promoting investment opportunities and strengthening economic ties between the two countries.
