Omanghana
During an official visit to South Korea in March 2026, John Dramani Mahama, President of Ghana, received a symbolic diplomatic gift from South Korean President Lee Jae-myung—a specially branded “Ghana” chocolate bar designed to highlight the longstanding connection between the two nations.
The gift was chosen to represent both economic partnership and cultural ties. The chocolate is part of the well-known “Ghana” brand produced by the South Korean confectionery company Lotte WellFood. The brand has been a household name in South Korea since 1975, years before formal diplomatic relations were established between the two countries.
For the occasion, the chocolate bars presented to President Mahama were produced using cocoa beans sourced primarily from Ghana. More than 80 percent of the cacao used in the bars came from Ghanaian farms, highlighting the country’s global prominence as the world’s second-largest cocoa producer and a key supplier to international chocolate manufacturers.
The packaging for the gift was specially customized to mark the presidential visit. It featured the national flags of Ghana and South Korea along with President Mahama’s name, turning the chocolate bar into a commemorative symbol of bilateral friendship and cooperation.
According to South Korean presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung, the chocolate also carried personal significance for President Lee. In September 2023, while he was on a hunger strike as leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, a child reportedly gave him a bar of the same Ghana chocolate. President Lee later recalled that the gesture gave him strength during that difficult period, making the gift particularly meaningful.
In addition to the symbolic chocolate bar, President Lee presented President Mahama with several other gifts reflecting South Korea’s culture and technological achievements. Among them was the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, representing the country’s leadership in advanced technology and innovation.
President Mahama was also given a traditional Korean artwork known as Sugun joryeondo, a folk painting depicting naval training exercises. The artwork symbolizes discipline, strategic coordination, and maritime readiness, and was presented as a gesture highlighting the potential for stronger maritime security cooperation between the two countries.
The exchange of gifts during the visit underscored the strengthening diplomatic, economic, and cultural relationship between Ghana and South Korea, particularly in areas such as trade, technology, and global commodity partnerships.
Source: Omanghana
