Visa Waiver, Climate Deal: Kojo Choi reviews first year in office

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No, I reject the terms for becoming a GhanaWeb member.Yes, I accept the terms for becoming a GhanaWeb member. - By continuing, you agree to the Terms & Privacy Policy Self Service Advert Sitemap Partners About Us Home - News Election 2024 TWI News \| TV Polls Press Release News Blogs News Archive Crime & Punishment Politics Regional Editorial Health Ghanaians Abroad Tabloid Africa Religion Coronavirus News Videos \| TV Photo Archives News Headlines Cartoons Year In Review Eyes On The Ground \| TV The Untold \| TV People & Places \| TV The Lowdown \| TV Say It Loud \| TV You are here: Home → News → 2026 10 11 → Article 2056169 Visa Waiver, Climate Deal: Kojo Choi reviews first year in office Kojo Choi is Ghana’s Ambassador to South Korea Ghana’s Ambassador to South Korea, Kojo Choi, has highlighted key diplomatic achievements during his first year in office, including a visa-waiver arrangement for Ghanaian diplomatic and service passport holders and a climate change agreement between the two countries. Choi, in a Facebook post on Sunday, October 11, 2026, said his first year in Korea had been focused on advancing Ghana’s interests, strengthening bilateral relations and creating opportunities for Ghanaians. Meet Kojo Choi Ghana’s Ambassador-designate to South Korea Reflecting on his time in office, the Ambassador said President John Dramani Mahama’s state visit to South Korea helped advance important issues that had remained unresolved for more than a decade. He disclosed that Ghana had secured a visa-waiver arrangement for holders of diplomatic and service passports, while efforts were ongoing to improve travel opportunities for ordinary Ghanaian passport holders. Choi also said the embassy was working with Korean labour, justice and immigration authorities to explore opportunities for Ghanaian workers to access the Korean labour market. On climate cooperation, he said the Ghana-Korea Climate Change Agreement had been achieved, paving the way for potential projects, technology transfer and investment once the ratification process is completed. “If you would ask me what I achieved in my 1 year in Korea, my answer would be, ‘It was about putting Ghana where Ghana belongs: At The Table,’” he wrote. The Ambassador further highlighted Ghana’s participation in major diplomatic engagements, including the Korea-Africa Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the Korea-Africa Finance Ministers’ Conference in Seoul. He also noted that South Korea supported Ghana’s resolution at the United Nations on the historical injustice of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade. According to Choi, the embassy has been working to deepen cooperation in agriculture, education, health, infrastructure, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, investment, trade and tourism. He added that more Korean institutions and companies were exploring opportunities in Ghana, while educational exchanges and development cooperation between the two countries continued to expand. Beyond diplomatic and economic relations, Choi said strengthening ties with Ghanaians living in South Korea had been a major part of his first year. He noted that the embassy had revived Ghana’s National Day celebration after almost eight years, organised its first Joint Worship and Thanksgiving Service, and brought back the Ambassador’s Town Hall Meeting. He also recalled attending the 30th anniversary celebration of GHANASKO in Paju, where he joined more than 400 Ghanaians. Looking ahead, Choi said his second year would focus on turning diplomatic engagements into tangible benefits, including increased investment, jobs, trade, technology transfer and educational opportunities. “The first year was about opening doors, rebuilding relationships, raising Ghana’s visibility and creating platforms. The second year must be about walking through those doors,” he wrote. He said he would travel more frequently between Ghana and South Korea to connect opportunities identified in Korea with institutions and businesses in Ghana. Choi expressed gratitude to President Mahama, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, embassy staff, Ghanaian residents in Korea and Korean partners for their support during his first year. But more than anything, it has been one year of service to Ghana. I am grateful that significant progress has been made. President Mahama’s State Visit to Korea helped move forward important issues that had remained unresolved for more than a decade. We achieved a visa-waiver arrangement for Ghanaian diplomatic and service passport holders, while continuing to work towards greater mobility for ordinary Ghanaian passport holders. We are working with Korean labour, justice and immigration authorities to explore opportunities for Ghanaian workers to access the Korean labour market. And the Ghana Korea Climate Change Agreement has been achieved, creating a pathway towards projects, technology and investment once the ratification process is completed. If you would ask me what I achieved in my 1 year in Korea, my answer would be, "It was about putting Ghana where Ghana belongs: At The Table." Ghana co-hosted the Korea–Africa Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Seoul. Ghana played an active role at the Korea–Africa Finance Ministers’ Conference in Seoul. At the meeting of Heads of Diplomatic Missions hosted by the President of Korea, Ghana had the honour of speaking on behalf of the African and Middle Eastern diplomatic community. And when Ghana brought its resolution on the historical injustice of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade to the United Nations, Korea stood with Ghana and voted in support. These moments matter. Because they show that Ghana is not simply present in Korea. We have also worked tirelessly to deepen cooperation in Agriculture, education, health, infrastructure, climate, green growth, digital transformation, AI, investment, trade, tourism / culture and ODA. Many Korean institutions and companies are now looking more closely at Ghana. More students are moving between our two countries. More Korean development cooperation is reaching Ghana. Some of these results are already visible. And then there has been another part of this first year that is particularly close to my heart: our Ghanaian community in Korea. Over the past year, we brought back the National Day celebration after almost eight years. We held our first Joint Worship & Thanksgiving Service. We revived the Ambassador’s Town Hall Meeting. We strengthened engagement with Ghanaian students, churches, professionals, businesses and community organisations. And last Sunday, I had the privilege of joining more than 400 Ghanaians in Paju to celebrate 30 years of GHANASKO. That celebration gave me one of the most touching moments of my first year. As I entered the hall, I saw Miss Vida dancing Adowa and wiping tears from her eyes. For a moment, all the meetings, conferences, agreements and diplomatic work disappeared. It is about ensuring that Ghanaians in Korea feel that their country sees them, values them and stands with them. I left Korea when I was 14 and grew up in Ghana. And many years later, I returned to the country of my birth, carrying Ghana in my heart and representing Ghana as its Ambassador. That is a responsibility I do not take lightly. And it reminded me of something else: I have worked hard this first year. But I must do even more. Today, I begin my second year in Korea. And the second year must be different. The first year was about opening doors, rebuilding relationships, raising Ghana’s visibility and creating platforms. The second year must be about walking through those doors. More Korean companies partnering with Ghanaian companies. More Ghanaian workers benefiting from opportunities in Korea. More students and young people moving in both directions. More Ghanaian products reaching the Korean market. And stronger people-to-people connections. For that reason, I will be travelling more frequently between Ghana and Korea. I want to connect the opportunities I discover here with the people and institutions that can make them happen in Ghana. I want the conversations in Seoul to become projects in Accra. I want Korean investment to create jobs in Ghana. And I want the Ghana–Korea relationship to become something that ordinary Ghanaians can feel in their lives. One year ago, I came to Korea with a purpose. Today, I look back with gratitude for what has been achieved. But I also look forward with even greater determination. To my colleagues at the Embassy of Ghana in Seoul, thank you for running this race with me. To my Foreign Minister Honourable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and his entire team, thank you for the support and guidance. To my President His Excellency John Dramani Mahama and people of Ghana, thank you for the trust. To our Ghanaian community in Korea, thank you for your encouragement and your prayers. To our Korean friends and partners, thank you giving me the access and for believing in Ghana. And to our God Almighty for the favours and blessings. OneYearInKorea #GhanaKorea #GhanaDiplomacy #GhanaRising #GhanaDiaspora #GHANASKO30 #GhanaKoreaPartnership #PublicDiplomacy #ForGhana | | | | | --- | --- | --- | | 9.2K | 481 | 126 | NCCE Launches Awareness Drive Against Violent Extremism in Southern Border Communities - YouTube NCCE Launches Awareness Drive Against Violent Extremism in Southern Border Communities GhanaWeb TV This article has 16 comment(s), give your comment \\ Accra Sports Stadium to host a 'church programme' - Reports \\ Ghana to leverage IMF/World Bank meetings to boost investor confidence \\ ‘He got the least, but became the biggest’ - Elder sister celebrates actor Majid Michel \\ Drone strike by Sudan paramilitary kills 41 near Ethiopian border, rights group says \\ Ghana’s decision to apply to join BRICS not a diplomatic footnote but strategic signal Source: GhanaWeb (https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Visa-Waiver-Climate-Deal-Kojo-Choi-reviews-first-year-in-office-2056169)