President John Dramani Mahama on Friday held a bilateral meeting with Mr Woo Won-shik, Speaker of the Korean National Assembly, in Seoul, South Korea.
The meeting forms part of President Mahama’s five-day working visit to the East Asian nation aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic relations between Ghana and South Korea.
This marks President Mahama’s fourth visit to South Korea. His first visit was in 2010 when he travelled to the country as Ghana’s Vice President on an official working visit. His second visit was in May 2018 when he attended the African Development Bank Board meeting in Busan, while the third was in 2024 for the Africa–South Korea Summit.
During the meeting, President Mahama said his current visit symbolised the strong relations that exist between Ghana and South Korea.
He noted that both countries would celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations next year, describing the relationship as one built on shared democratic values.
“We’re proud of our democratic traditions, especially in a sub-region where democracy is backsliding. There have been several coup d’états recently in several West African countries, but Ghana remains the beacon of democracy,” President Mahama said.
The President stressed that Ghana remained committed to proving that democracy works and is the best system of governance to create opportunities for young people to realise their full potential.
He also acknowledged Speaker Woo and the Korean Parliament for their role in maintaining stability during a recent turbulent political period in South Korea.
According to President Mahama, Speaker Woo’s leadership demonstrated the strength of democratic institutions and their ability to function effectively during times of crisis.
President Mahama further reflected on his own experience as a three-term Member of Parliament, stating that it reinforced his strong belief in parliamentary democracy.
