The Upper East Region has declared itself open and ready for a full partnership with South Korea, presenting its GH₵8.6 billion PEARL Framework to Korean investors and calling for technology, skills training and industrial cooperation to transform agriculture and livelihoods in northern Ghana. 

The message was delivered by Anatu Bogobiri on behalf of the Upper East Regional Minister, Akamugri Donatus Atanga, at the Ghana-Korea Business Forum 2026 held at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra. "The Upper East Region is not only open to Korean partnership, it is ready for a Korean partnership!" she declared.

Ms Bogobiri thanked Cheol Soo Lee and A-Tech Group Korea, the Daejeon Defense Industry Cooperative Association, and Digital Eye Africa Ltd for bringing a distinguished Korean delegation to Ghana, including retired Generals of the Republic of Korea Army and Air Force. 

She noted that the relationship between South Korea and the Upper East did not begin on Wednesday, as over the past year, the Regional Coordinating Council and A-Tech Group Korea have built a framework of cooperation covering drone and satellite technology, skills training, academic exchange and the revival of agro-industrial assets.

These discussions have now been consolidated into a Memorandum of Understanding between the Upper East Region and the Korean team, subject to approval by all relevant authorities. At the heart of the programme is a partnership with Bolgatanga Technical University to bring drone and satellite remote-sensing capability to northern Ghana, with the University of Technology and Applied Sciences in Navrongo as the second university partner. 

"South Korea's own story inspires us. Within one lifetime, Korea turned a war-torn, largely rural economy into a world leader in technology and manufacturing. It did so by investing in people, in rural modernisation, and in the discipline to see long-term plans through," Ms Bogobiri said.

"The Upper East has the land, we have the people and now the plan. What we seek from Korea is the know-how and partnership to move faster."

The PEARL Framework
The Upper East Region is home to about 1.3 million people across 15 districts and municipalities, most of whom are young and depend on farming.

To address challenges such as a single rainy season, rising temperatures, and land and water pressure, the Region has adopted the PEARL Framework 2026-2035, which stands for Prosperity through Enterprise, Agriculture and Regional Livelihoods.

It is a ten-year plan covering all 15 districts, eight sectors and 23 flagship projects, validated with chiefs, assemblies, farmers, women's groups, traders and the private sector in Bolgatanga this year.

The framework rests on existing assets, including three public irrigation schemes at Tono, Vea and Tamne, agro-industrial assets ready for revival such as the Pwalugu Tomato Factory, the Zuarungu Meat Factory, the Pusu-Namongo cotton ginnery and the Bolgatanga rice mills, a strong livestock tradition, gold resources around Talensi, and the Paga border corridor.

Where Korean technology can help
Ms Bogobiri outlined five areas where Korean technology can make a difference: precision agriculture and drones for early warning and field mapping; geospatial mapping for district planning and revenue generation; water treatment and efficient irrigation; skills training for young people as drone pilots, technicians, GIS analysts and coding professionals; and industrial cooperation to revive idle agro-processing assets.

She also noted that drone and geospatial tools can support national security agencies in border districts, under Ghana's laws and in cooperation with national authorities. BuyMaps

What the Upper East offers
In return, the Region offers a clear plan through PEARL, a single point of contact through the Regional Coordinating Council, accountability through an independent PEARL Fund with its own Board of Trustees and citizens' oversight committee, and people and institutions, including two universities and a young population eager to learn. "We want projects that will still be running long after the ribbon is cut. We want legacy!" she said.

On behalf of the Regional Minister, Ms Bogobiri proposed five concrete initiatives: a drone and precision-agriculture pilot on at least one irrigation scheme starting with Vea or Tono in the next farming season; a skills and training centre at Bolgatanga Technical University for drone operation, maintenance and geospatial analysis; a community water-treatment demonstration in at least one district; a Korean business delegation visit to Bolgatanga to see the irrigation schemes and agro-industrial sites; and a joint working group to turn discussions into signed project agreements.

The Region's focal person for follow-up is Dr Bishop Akolgo. "In the Upper East, we have a saying that one hand cannot tie a bundle. Korea brings technology and experience; and the Upper East Region brings land, water, people and a plan. Together, we can tie this bundle," Ms Bogobiri concluded.

Source: Graphiconline