InterviewKorea-born Ghanaian ambassador hopes to serve as bridge between his two motherlands

Ghanaian Ambassador to Korea Kojo Choi speaks during an interview with Yonhap News Agency at his official residence in Seoul, Friday. Yonhap

Korea and Ghana share much in common as nations with strong pride and identity rooted in family-oriented traditions — foundations that can help elevate their partnership to a new level for mutual growth, Ghana's top envoy to Seoul has said.

Kojo Choi, Ghana's new ambassador to Korea, made the remarks in a recent interview with Yonhap News Agency, expressing hope to play a bridging role in bolstering bilateral ties as the first ambassador of African nationality with Korean descent. Choi took up his post in Seoul in October.

"The cultures of the two countries are remarkably similar. Just like Korea places great importance on its ethnic identity, Ghana also values its national identity with the same intensity," Choi said in the interview Friday.

"The culture that places family at the heart of life and valuing community is a similarity shared by the two nations," he said.

Choi, a Korea-born naturalized Ghanaian, moved to Ghana with his missionary parents in 1992.

With such similarities, the two countries can seek to advance their partnership in a mutually beneficial way, he said, stressing that Ghana "holds the key" for Korea to find a new breakthrough for growth amid uncertainties in global supply chains and other challenges.

"Korea has achieved rapid growth through exports, but with unstable global supply chains and emerging economies advancing in technologies, it has become difficult to find new breakthroughs," Choi said.

"It's time for Korea to think outside the box and seek an entirely new growth strategy," he said.

Choi suggested that combining Korea's industrialization experience and technological capabilities with Ghana's rich resources and growth potential could open new opportunities for both countries.

Introducing Ghana as a major producer of critical minerals like nickel, lithium and manganese — key components for electric vehicle (EV) batteries — Choi said the country has focused on nurturing the EV-related ecosystem as a strategic industry.

This makes Korea, one of the world's major EV and EV battery makers, an optimal partner for the African nation, he said.

"With Hyundai Motor's assembly plant in Ghana as a starting point, I believe new opportunities will emerge if we expand our partnership to include both the upstream and downstream sectors of the battery industry," he said.

Like many African nations, Ghana has the geographical advantage as a logistics gateway to Europe and the United States, offering export-driven countries like Korea greater access and efficiency, Choi said.

Choi noted that eligible sub-Saharan nations are in talks with the U.S. to revive duty-free access to the American market after the program was not extended under the Donald Trump administration's tariff policy.

"If we can make use of this institutional basis, we can realize a market expansion strategy that connects Ghana, Africa, Europe and the U.S.," he said. "And Ghana is ready to become Korea's best partner in leading the era of African economic integration."

While he has built a reputation as a successful businessman in Ghana, which he calls his "second motherland," his appointment as ambassador drew some public opposition there.

"I had never expected my appointment would be at the center of such heated controversy. Seeing it escalate into a national issue weighed heavily on me," Choi said.

He said it was not political analysis or diplomatic explanations that resonated with people, but the stories of his childhood in Ghana and his life of missionary service and giving that gradually became known and helped shift public opinion.

"Serving in Korea as Ghana's ambassador is one of the most special and honorable moments of my life. My love for, and understanding of, Africa is deeply rooted in who I am," Choi said.

As the two countries are set to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2027, Choi said he is seeking to explore the possibility with Seoul to co-host a K-pop performance and other events in Ghana.

Choi also expressed strong hopes for early high-level exchanges, including reciprocal state visits by President Lee Jae Myung and Ghanaian President John Mahama.

"When the day comes for me to return to Ghana, I hope to be remembered by the Ghanaian people as an ambassador who truly did well," he said.

"My greatest goal is to help Korea, the country where I was born, and Ghana, the country that raised me, become the closest of friends and the strongest of partners," Choi added.