President John Dramani Mahama has commissioned the Sahara LPG Vessel, MT Asharami Ghana, in the Republic of Korea, describing the development as a significant step toward strengthening energy security and improving the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) supply chain in Ghana and across West Africa.

The commissioning ceremony, held on Thursday, March 12, 2026, brought together government officials, industry stakeholders, and international partners to witness the launch of the state-of-the-art vessel designed to enhance the transportation and distribution of LPG within the region.

Addressing the gathering, President Mahama said the occasion represented more than the launch of a vessel, noting that it symbolised progress in strengthening global LPG infrastructure and ensuring reliable energy supply for countries that rely partly on imports.

“It is a profound honour to join you here today in the Republic of Korea—a nation globally renowned for its excellence in shipbuilding, maritime engineering, and technological innovation—as we witness the commissioning of the Sahara LPG Vessel,” he said.

He explained that for countries such as Ghana and many others across Africa that depend partly on LPG imports to complement domestic production, expanding global shipping capacity is essential for ensuring supply security and improving energy logistics.

According to the President, the commissioning of the dual-fuel, fully refrigerated LPG carrier reflects strong collaboration among stakeholders committed to advancing safe, efficient, and responsible energy distribution.

“Today, we celebrate not only engineering excellence but also the power of partnership. The commissioning of this state-of-the-art LPG carrier reflects the collective vision and collaboration of stakeholders committed to advancing safe, efficient and responsible energy distribution,” he stated.

President Mahama indicated that the vessel, developed under the West Africa Gas Limited (WAGL) Energy initiative, represents a strategic addition to a growing fleet aimed at supporting the evolving energy needs of the region.

He noted that its deployment would significantly expand LPG transport capacity and strengthen access to reliable and cleaner energy across West Africa and the African continent.

Highlighting the importance of LPG in the global energy transition, the President said the fuel provides a cleaner alternative to traditional energy sources such as charcoal, firewood, and kerosene, which remain widely used across many African communities.

“Liquefied Petroleum Gas plays a vital role in this transition. For millions of households across Africa, LPG offers a cleaner alternative to traditional fuels such as charcoal, firewood and kerosene,” he said.

He added that the wider adoption of LPG would not only improve public health but also contribute to environmental sustainability by reducing deforestation and indoor air pollution.

President Mahama further noted that Ghana currently produces about 50 percent of its LPG requirements locally, while the remaining half is imported to meet national demand.

“Ghana, like many of our neighbouring countries, recognises the transformative potential of LPG in supporting socio-economic development. While Ghana produces locally about 50 percent of our LPG requirements, we still rely on imports for the other 50 percent of local consumption,” he explained.

He said the addition of MT Asharami Ghana would strengthen the region’s capacity to transport LPG safely and efficiently, ensuring that industries, businesses, and households have reliable access to modern energy services.

The President commended Sahara Group, WAGL Energy, and other partners involved in the project for their leadership, technical expertise, and commitment to expanding energy infrastructure across Africa.

He emphasised that the commissioning of the vessel also demonstrated the importance of international cooperation and the strong partnerships between Africa and global partners in advancing sustainable development.

President Mahama expressed optimism that the vessel would inspire further investment and collaboration across Africa’s energy value chain.

Vice President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has called for deliberate and sustained efforts to advance gender equality, stressing that the progress of any nation is closely tied to the empowerment and advancement of women.

Speaking at an event marking International Women’s Day, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said the occasion provides an opportunity not only to celebrate the achievements made as a nation but also to reflect on the work that still lies ahead in ensuring equal opportunities for women.

“We are here to celebrate the progress we have made as a nation, but we are also here to reflect on the work that remains,” she said.

According to the Vice President, International Women’s Day serves as a reminder that national development cannot be separated from the advancement of women.

“International Women’s Day reminds us that a nation’s advancement cannot be separated from the advancement of its women,” she stated.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang noted that across communities, institutions, and workplaces, women continue to demonstrate resilience, innovation, professionalism, and leadership in various roles that contribute significantly to national development.

“Across our communities, institutions and workplaces, women exhibit resilience, innovation, professionalism and leadership. They are educators, policymakers, entrepreneurs, caregivers, administrators and change-makers,” she said.

She emphasized that the dedication and service of women help to build more inclusive, dynamic, and prosperous societies.

“Their dedication and service contribute to inclusivity, dynamism and prosperity,” the Vice President added.

However, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang acknowledged that despite the progress made over the years, gender inequality still persists in several areas including leadership, access to opportunities, workplace inclusion, and participation in decision-making.

“While we celebrate these achievements, we must also acknowledge that gender inequality persists in leadership, access to opportunities, workplace inclusion and fair participation in decision-making,” she noted.

She therefore called for collective action from all stakeholders to address these challenges and ensure that women are given the opportunities and support they need to thrive.

“Overcoming these challenges calls for deliberate, ongoing and collective efforts,” Prof. Opoku-Agyemang stressed.

The Vice President also urged institutions and leaders to move beyond rhetoric and focus on practical measures that promote equity and support women’s growth and leadership.

“The theme we have today challenges us to go beyond words and focus on real, measurable actions that promote equity and create supportive environments where women can grow, lead and succeed,” she said.

Ghana and the Republic of Korea have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, with a renewed focus on cooperation in agriculture, trade, technology and critical minerals.

President John Dramani Mahama made this known during bilateral talks with the South Korean President, where he highlighted the strong historical and democratic ties that bind the two nations.

“Talking about the historic relations between Ghana and Korea, we are proud of the shared values that bind our two countries. We share a similar historical background, a deep respect for democracy, and a strong commitment to human rights,” President Mahama said.

According to him, these shared values have enabled Ghana and Korea to collaborate effectively on the global stage.

“Ghana and Korea often find themselves taking similar positions on many issues at the United Nations and other international forums. Our relationship is not defined by the distance between our two countries, but rather by the similarity of the values we share,” he stated.

President Mahama also highlighted growing cultural ties between the two countries, noting the influence of Korean culture among Ghanaian youth.

“Before I left Ghana, someone asked me to bring back kimchi. Our young people, including my own children, listen to K-pop music. These cultural connections bring our peoples closer together,” he said.

The President emphasised that agriculture remains a key area of cooperation between Ghana and Korea, particularly in efforts to boost local rice production and reduce imports.

“Our cooperation with KOICA has been very important, particularly in increasing rice production through the K-Rice Belt Project. Rice has now become a staple food in Ghana, and we want to reduce the amount of rice we import,” he noted.

President Mahama also underscored Ghana’s strategic role in Africa through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), whose secretariat is based in Accra.

“Our goal is to position Ghana as a hub for production and exports to the rest of Africa. Ghana has abundant natural and human resources, while Korea has technology and innovation. I believe we can bring these strengths together in a win-win partnership,” he said.

He further called for deeper collaboration in the exploitation and processing of critical minerals, stressing the importance of value addition.

“Korea has the technology, and we believe we can explore these resources together — not exporting them in their raw form, but adding value before exporting them to Korea and other markets,” the President explained.

Touching on Ghana’s cocoa industry, President Mahama reiterated the country’s commitment to expanding value-added production.

“We want to create more value by processing cocoa into products such as cocoa liquor and cocoa butter for export, allowing other industries to turn them into finished products,” he added.

President Mahama also highlighted maritime security as an important area of cooperation between the two countries, particularly in addressing piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.

“Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea is a major concern, and we are pleased that one of the memoranda we will sign today focuses on maritime safety and cooperation,” he said.

He also assured the Korean government that Ghana’s economy is steadily recovering after recent financial challenges.

“We have successfully restructured our debt, and our economy is now back on track. Inflation is declining, our currency has strengthened, and we are meeting our debt obligations,” President Mahama stated.

The President added that Ghana looks forward to renewed access to the Economic Development Cooperation Fund and the signing of a visa waiver agreement for diplomatic and official passport holders to facilitate exchanges between the two nations.