The Speaker of the National Assembly of South Korea, Woo Won-shik, has commended Ghana for its strong democratic record and peaceful transfers of power over the years.

Speaking during a meeting with President John Dramani Mahama in South Korea, the Speaker described Ghana as a “highly democratic nation,” noting that its democracy index is comparable to that of South Korea.

He said the similarities in democratic values place the two countries in a special position as close partners.

Speaker Woo also reflected on South Korea’s recent political challenges, revealing that the country had faced an attempted military coup but successfully defended its democracy.

He said the situation was resolved through the collective efforts of the Korean people and lawmakers who gathered at the National Assembly in the middle of the night to lift martial law and restore democratic governance.

“We are very proud of this achievement, and we believe it has been recognised by many countries across the world,” he said, adding that meeting a leader from another democratic nation made the engagement particularly meaningful.

The Speaker further praised President Mahama’s commitment to democratic governance, referencing the African Political Party Summit hosted in Ghana last August under the theme “From Politics to Prosperity.”

According to him, the theme reflected President Mahama’s conviction that democracy is essential for national development.

He also congratulated the Ghanaian leader on receiving an honorary doctorate from Yonsei University, noting that the institution is his alma mater.

“We now share an academic connection as well, and that makes me very pleased,” he remarked.

On climate change, Speaker Woo welcomed the agreement signed between Ghana and South Korea during recent talks between President Mahama and Lee Jae-myung, describing climate change as a global crisis that requires urgent and decisive action.

He revealed that the Korean National Assembly has established a Special Committee on Climate Change to advance legislative efforts on the issue.

The Speaker also acknowledged Ghana’s recent economic challenges, noting that the country defaulted on its external debt in 2022 and implemented a programme with the International Monetary Fund.

However, he commended President Mahama’s leadership in stabilising the economy, citing efforts to reduce inflation and strengthen the currency.

Speaker Woo said Ghana’s recovery reminded him of South Korea’s experience during the Asian Financial Crisis, when the country also implemented an IMF programme before eventually overcoming the crisis under the leadership of former President Kim Dae-jung.

He said Ghana’s progress demonstrated the impact of strong leadership and expressed honour in meeting President Mahama.