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.

President John Dramani Mahama has announced Ghana’s commitment to achieving rice self-sufficiency through enhanced cooperation with the Republic of Korea under the K-Rice Belt Project.

Speaking during bilateral talks with the South Korean President, Mahama emphasised that agriculture remains a key pillar of Ghana’s development strategy, particularly in ensuring food security and reducing the country’s reliance on imported rice.

“With regard to bilateral relations, we have focused strongly on agriculture and agribusiness to help achieve food security,” President Mahama said.

He noted that Ghana’s partnership with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has been instrumental in supporting local rice production and improving agricultural productivity.

“Our cooperation with KOICA has been very important, particularly in increasing rice production through the K-Rice Belt Project,” he stated.

According to the President, the introduction of high-yielding rice varieties through the project will help Ghana significantly expand domestic production and reduce the country’s heavy dependence on rice imports.

“We look forward to the availability of high-yielding rice varieties that will help us expand production. Rice has now become a staple food in Ghana, and we want to reduce the amount of rice we import,” he added.

Mahama explained that strengthening the rice sector will not only improve food security but also create jobs and stimulate agribusiness development across the country.

Beyond agriculture, the President highlighted broader opportunities for Ghana and Korea to deepen economic cooperation by combining Ghana’s natural and human resources with Korea’s advanced technology and innovation.

“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 also pointed to Ghana’s strategic role within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), whose secretariat is located in Accra, describing it as a major opportunity for investors seeking access to Africa’s growing market.

“Our goal is to position Ghana as a hub for production and exports to the rest of Africa,” President Mahama noted.

The President expressed optimism that continued cooperation between Ghana and Korea, particularly in agriculture and agribusiness, would significantly contribute to Ghana’s long-term food security and economic growth.