President John Dramani Mahama and his South Korean counterpart Lee Jae-Myung have held high-level talks in Seoul aimed at strengthening cooperation between Ghana and South Korea in areas including maritime security, climate action and digital innovation.

The summit took place on Wednesday afternoon at the South Korean presidential office during President Mahama’s ongoing working visit to the Asian nation.

At the end of the meeting, the two sides signed a number of agreements designed to deepen bilateral collaboration, particularly in maritime security, climate change mitigation and emerging technologies.

A key agreement was a memorandum of understanding between the Korea Coast Guard and the Ghana Navy to strengthen cooperation in maritime safety and security.

The arrangement provides for joint training, educational exchanges and seminars to enhance maritime enforcement capacity. It also establishes a framework for sharing intelligence on transnational maritime crimes such as piracy, arms trafficking and drug smuggling, while promoting collaboration in search-and-rescue operations involving distressed vessels, aircraft and personnel.

South Korean authorities said the agreement was expected to strengthen stability in the Gulf of Guinea by improving the maritime security capabilities of the Ghana Navy and enhancing the protection of vessels and nationals operating in the region.

The Gulf of Guinea has long been considered one of the world’s piracy-prone maritime zones, an issue that has drawn the attention of international shipping operators, including South Korean commercial fleets and energy carriers that navigate the waters.

In 2018, three South Korean nationals were kidnapped by armed pirates in waters near Ghana, prompting South Korea to deploy the Cheonghae naval unit from the Gulf of Aden as part of an emergency response operation. Defence cooperation between the two countries dates back further, including the transfer of a decommissioned Chamsuri-class patrol boat to Ghana in 2010.

Beyond maritime security, both governments also concluded a framework agreement on climate change cooperation. The agreement outlines collaboration on climate initiatives, scientific research and technology exchange, as well as the use of emissions reduction mechanisms under the Paris Agreement.

Officials in Seoul said the arrangement would create a legal basis for both countries to pursue joint climate action and support their respective nationally determined contributions under the global climate accord.

Under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement, countries can cooperate on emissions reductions through the transfer of carbon reduction outcomes, known as Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes, between participating states.

The two governments also signed an additional memorandum of understanding covering cooperation in digital technology, innovation and emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence.

Symbolism linked to maritime cooperation also featured in the gifts prepared for the Ghanaian leader during his visit.

Among the items presented to President Mahama was a traditional Korean folding screen depicting “Sugun Joryeondo,” a folk painting showing warships arranged in formation during a naval drill in the era of the Joseon dynasty.

South Korean officials said the gift symbolised the maritime focus of the visit, particularly President Mahama’s planned participation in a ship-naming ceremony.

During the visit, the Ghanaian leader is expected to travel to Ulsan to attend the naming ceremony of a vessel at the shipyard of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries. The vessel is believed to be intended for transporting liquefied petroleum gas supplies to Ghana.

President Mahama was also presented with a Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra smartphone, which South Korean officials described as a symbol of the country’s technological capability and industrial competitiveness.

Adding a cultural element to the welcome, the Korean presidential office included Lotte’s well-known Ghana Chocolate among the gifts presented to the visiting leader. The product is widely recognised in South Korea and is made largely with cocoa beans sourced from Ghana, which accounts for more than 80 per cent of the cocoa used in its production.

Specially prepared chocolates bearing the national flags of both countries and the name of the Ghanaian president were placed at his accommodation as part of the reception for the visiting leader.

President Mahama’s trip to South Korea forms part of efforts by both countries to deepen economic cooperation and expand partnerships in strategic sectors including maritime security, technology and climate action.