President John Dramani Mahama has indicated that Ghana anticipates signing a visa waiver agreement with the Republic of Korea for holders of diplomatic and official passports, a move aimed at easing travel and strengthening cooperation between the two countries.
The President made the remarks during his official visit to South Korea, where he held bilateral discussions with the President of the Republic of Korea, Lee Ja-Myung on deepening diplomatic and economic relations.
“We look forward to signing a visa waiver agreement with Korea for diplomatic passports and official passports. This will make it easier for exchanges between our two countries,” President Mahama said.
According to data from the Passport Index, Ghana has already ratified visa waiver agreements with about 45 countries worldwide, helping to strengthen diplomatic mobility and enhance people-to-people engagement.
Should the agreement with South Korea be concluded, it would place the Asian nation alongside countries such as China, Cuba, Germany, Brazil, South Africa, Sudan, Namibia, Hungary, India, Equatorial Guinea, and Morocco, which already maintain reciprocal visa-free arrangements with Ghana for diplomatic and service passport holders.
The proposed arrangement is expected to facilitate smoother mobility for government officials, diplomats, and business delegations, while also encouraging greater cooperation in trade, education, and cultural exchange.
Ghana’s travel mobility has also improved in recent years, with the Passport Index ranking the Ghanaian passport 69th globally in 2026, reflecting gradual progress in visa access and diplomatic engagement.
Ghana and the Republic of Korea established diplomatic relations in 1977, and cooperation between the two countries has since expanded across political, economic, and development sectors. Both countries maintain diplomatic missions, with Ghana operating an embassy in Seoul and South Korea maintaining its embassy in Accra, reflecting the long-standing partnership between the two governments.
Economic relations between the two countries have also grown steadily, with South Korea emerging as an important trade and investment partner for Ghana. Korean companies such as Samsung, LG Electronics, Hyundai, and Kia have established a strong presence in Ghana’s consumer electronics and automotive sectors, while bilateral trade largely involves Ghana exporting commodities such as cocoa and mineral resources, and importing machinery, vehicles, and technology products from Korea.
Development cooperation has also been a central pillar of the partnership. Through institutions such as the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF), South Korea has supported Ghana in areas including agriculture, education, healthcare, digital technology, and infrastructure development.
In recent years, both countries have sought to deepen cooperation further in areas such as technology transfer, industrialisation, and critical mineral development, reflecting a shared interest in expanding economic collaboration.
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