Kojo Choi
Amb Kojo Choi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Ambassador of the Republic of Ghana to South Korea | |
| Assumed office October 2025 | |
| President | John Mahama |
| Preceded by | Charis Margaretha Obetsebi-Lamptey Zwennes |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 November 1978 |
| Nationality | Ghanaian |
| Party | National Democratic Congress |
| Alma mater | University of Ghana |
| Profession | Businessman |
Kojo Choi born Choi Seung Eub in 1978 in Chuncheon, South Korea is a Ghanaian fintech entrepreneur and Ghana's Ambassador to the Republic of South Korea.[1] Kojo Choi was a naturalized Ghanaian citizen at age 14, when his father, Reverend John Choi, a missionary, relocated the family to Ghana.
Education
[edit]Ambassador Choi studied at SOS-Hermann Gmeiner International College in Tema for high school education from where he proceeded to the University of Ghana, Legon, where he obtained a B.Sc. in Business Administration in 2002.[2][3] Kojo Choi is also a product of the prestigious University of Ghana Business School.[4]
Business
[edit]Choi has established a reputation in fintech, telecommunications, marketing communications, and business consulting across Ghana and West Africa for over two decades.[5][6][7] He also acted as a consultant to the Korean Embassy and several multinational companies operating in Ghana.[8] In 2015, he founded PaySwitch Limited, Ghana’s only third-party payment processor certified to integrate with Visa, MasterCard, UnionPay, and all major mobile money networks (MTN, Telecel and AT).[9] The company also holds international security certifications like ISO 27001 and PCI DSS.[10] His leadership in fintech earned him recognition as one of Ghana’s 25 Most Influential FinTech Leaders in 2018.
He is the Chief Executive Officer of PaySwitch Company Limited, Ghana’s only third-party payment processor certified to integrate with Visa, MasterCard, UnionPay, and all major mobile money network firms launched in 2015.[11][12][13] Choi is identified as 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. 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. He is currently Ghana’s Ambassador to the Republic of South Korea, a letter dated 21st July 2025, and signed by Dr. Callistus Mahama, Executive Secretary to President John Dramani Mahama announced the latter.[14][15][16] Before becoming Ambassador, He was a consultant to the Korean Embassy and several multinational companies operating in Ghana.
Choi is the founder of Art Africa, a cultural initiative launched in 2022 in Osu, Accra.[17] The gallery promotes African artists, fosters cultural exchange, and uses art for social advocacy including supporting healthcare initiatives like Korle Bu Breast Cancer Surgical Unit through exhibitions like Colour Cure.[citation needed]
Ambassadorship
[edit]![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg?lang=en){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (October 2025) |
Choi's appointment to be Ambassador spurred public discussion around issues of dual citizenship, identity, and transparency, especially given Choi’s Korean origins and naturalized Ghanaian status.[18] Supporters view him as an asset to diplomacy and an enhancement of Ghana–South Korea relations and are saying his appointment, which is first of its kind in sub Saharan Africa, is signaling Ghana's readiness for globalization and internationalization, promoting inclusion and diversity. Critics on the other hand have questioned the process.[19][20][21]
References
[edit]- ^ "Meet Kojo Choi Ghana's Ambassador-designate to South Korea". ghanaweb.com. 28 July 2025. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ Sededzi Kwame, Christopher (25 July 2025). "Who is Kojo Choi? All you need to know about Ghana's Ambassador-designate to South Korea". Pulse Ghana. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ "Meet Ambassador-Designate Kojo Choi, the South Korean Who Has Lived in Ghana Since His Teens". YEN Ghana. 25 July 2025. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ "UGBS Alumnus, Mr. Kojo Choi, Appointed Ghana's Ambassador-Designate to South Korea". University of Ghana Business School. 25 July 2025. Retrieved 2 August 2025..
- ^ "Ghana's fintech pioneer Kojo Choi named Ambassador-Designate to South Korea". Theheraldghana.com. 25 August 2025. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ "Ambassador-Designate Kojo Choi Opens a School in Ghana: Inside The Plush Open Heart Africa Academy". Yen Ghana. 25 July 2025. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ "Meet Ghana's Ambassador designate to the Republic of South Korea Kojo Choi". 3news.com. 24 July 2025. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ Yorke, Prince Fiifi (25 July 2025). "Mahama Appoints Atta Kojo Choi, 7 Others As Ambassadors". Daily Guide Network. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ "PAYSWITCH Pledge To Partner GOC To Promote And Develop Ghana Sports". Modernghana.com. 14 March 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ "PaySwitch receives ISO 27001 certification". thebftonline.com. 23 September 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ "PaySwitch offers complete solutions to banks and other financial institutions". Koreapost.com. 28 February 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ Eduku, Pius (14 May 2025). "PaySwitch to the rescue with lower payment solutions". Citinewsroom. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ "Top 10 fintech apps in Ghana 2023". Myjoyonline.com. 23 November 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ "Who be Kojo Choi wey Ghana president appoint as ambassador to South Korea". BBC News Pidgin. 25 July 2025. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ "Kojo Choi, Mona Quartey, Saed Sinare & Harruna Attah among 8 nominated as Ambassadors by President Mahama". Graphic Online. 25 July 2025. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ Arthur, Abigail (24 July 2025). "Mahama appoints Harruna Attah, Mona Quartey, 6 others as Ambassadors". Citinewsroom. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ "Art Africa's Vision – Kojo Choi". Art Africa. 2 November 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ "Three personalities who have backed Kojo Choi's appointment despite controversy". Ghanaweb. 25 July 2025. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ Mensah, Kent (28 July 2025). "Naturalised but not Ghanaian enough? Meet Kojo Choi, Ghana's new man in Seoul". Theafricareport.com. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ "Ambassadorial Appointment Of Mr Kojo Choi; A Diplomatic Masterstroke". Modern Ghana. 25 July 2025. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ "Bentil hails appointment of Kojo Choi as Ghana's Ambassador designate to the Republic of South Korea". 3news.com. 25 July 2025. Retrieved 2 August 2025.