Kojo Choi’s (L) appointment by John Mahama (R) has sparked a lot of conversations
Kojo Choi the newly appointed Ghana’s Ambassador-designate to South Korea is a new face to many Ghanaians, despite operating a number of businesses in the country for years.
His appointment was announced on July 21, 2025, through a statement signed by the Executive Secretary of President John Dramani Mahama, Dr Callistus Mahama.
His inclusion on the ambassadorial list sparked public debate, with some questioning his Ghanaian identity and whether he truly deserved the role whiles arguing that equally qualified Ghanaian-born candidates were available for consideration.
While the appointment drew criticism from certain quarters, many others including those familiar with Choi’s long-standing presence in Ghana rallied in support, pointing out that he has lived in the country since childhood and has consistently demonstrated his commitment to national development.
Amid the debates, one question strongly stood out – who is Kojo Choi?
According to multiple sources including Choi’s social media, Kojo Choi (born Choi Seung-Up) was born in 1978 in Chuncheon, South Korea, to South Korean parents.
He is now a naturalised Ghanaian citizen and has lived in Ghana for more than 33 years.
He is married to Elizabeth Choi and has six children. Together with his wife, he co-founded One Heart Africa Academy, a Christian school located in East Legon.
Choi completed his early education in South Korea until the age of 14, when his father, Reverend Missionary John Choi, relocated the family to Ghana for missionary work.
Early Life and Education in Ghana
Kojo Choi attended SOS Hermann Gmeiner International College in Tema from 1994 to 1999.
He also graduated from the University of Ghana, Legon with a degree in Business Administration in 2002 after enrolling in 1999.
Career and Business Ventures
Over the years, Kojo Choi has established himself as a vital figure within both Ghanaian and Korean communities, serving as a cultural and business bridge between the two nations.
Professionally, he brings over two decades of experience spanning telecommunications, fintech, marketing communications, and business consulting across Ghana and the broader West African region.
Choi is the founder and CEO of PaySwitch Limited, Ghana’s only third-party processor for Visa, MasterCard, and UnionPay, which he launched in 2015.
He has also provided consultancy services to the Korean Embassy and various multinational firms.
Beyond the business sphere, Choi is deeply committed to promoting African art.
He founded Art Africa with the mission of empowering African artists and positioning Ghana as a center for contemporary art.
In 2022, he established the Art Africa Gallery in Osu, Accra, and spearheaded the Colour Cure Exhibition to support breast cancer care at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
In the diplomatic realm, he served as Deputy Head of Mission for Ghana during the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang.
Additionally, Choi is the driving force behind NanaTel Limited, an MTN Ghana-authorised distributor involved in mobile money management and customer care services in Ghana’s Eastern and Volta Regions.
To affirm these details, Kojo Choi also shared a post on his Facebook wall, personally confirming them to Ghanaians.
“33 years ago, I was just 14. Since then, I’ve witnessed every Ghanaian election under the 1992 Constitution. We shocked the world-not with chaos, but with peaceful, democratic transitions. Today, Ghana is a beacon of democracy in Africa. I could have left to the USA or to Korea at some point in life, but I chose to stay-not chase so-called greener pastures abroad,” he wrote.
“I naturalised as a Ghanaian, and I’ve never looked back. As I near my Golden Jubilee (though I still have 2 more years to cover), I look back with gratitude. The journey has been a blessing. I’m proud to be called Ghanaian. As Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah said, ‘I am not African because I was born in Africa but because Africa was born in me.’ I feel that deeply. Ghana may not be my birthplace, but it is my true home. May the good Lord continue to bless us and our mother land Ghana,” he added.
VKB/VPO
