IS PM MODI's GHANA VISIT A NEW SIGN OF INDIA's DIPLOMATIC REACH IN THE 'AFRICAN CONTINENT'?

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi arrived in Accra on 2nd July, 2025 on his State Visit to Ghana. In a special gesture, on arrival at the airport, the Prime Minister was received by the President of Ghana, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, and accorded a ceremonial welcome by giving him a 21-gun salute. This gesture is reflective of the strong and historic bonds of friendship between the two nations.

Prime Minister’s visit to Ghana is the first such visit in the last three decades. This historic visit would further deepen the partnership between India and Ghana, and underscores India’s commitment to strengthening its engagement with Africa and Global South Partners.

Narendra Modi is the third Prime Minister of India to visit Ghana. Earlier, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru visited this country in 1957 and Narasimha Rao in 1995. After 30 years, an Indian Prime Minister has visited Ghana.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Ghana on a mission of active diplomacy on African soil. Ghana is geographically far from India, but has now come very close in the equations of the Global South. He also underlined his country's expanding diplomatic development and business footprint in Africa.

India and Ghana share a diplomatic history that dates back to 1953, when India opened a representative office in Accra, formalising full diplomatic relations in 1957, the same year Ghana gained independence. Both nations are founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement, a group of states that are not formally aligned with or against any significant power bloc, and have historically stood together on issues of decolonisation and international solidarity. Over the decades, high-level visits from both sides have underscored the importance of this partnership. 

THE PURPOSE OF THE VISIT IS TO STRENGTHEN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES.

India has signed four bilateral agreements with Ghana which are detailed below:

• Agreement on Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP): To promote greater cultural understanding and exchange in arts, music, dance, literature, and heritage.
• Agreement between the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and Ghana Standards Authority (GSA): Aimed at enhancing cooperation in standardisation, certification, and conformity assessment.
• Agreement between the Institute of Traditional and Alternative Medicine (ITAM) of Ghana and the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA) of India: To cooperate in traditional medicine education, training, and research.
• Agreement on a Joint Commission Meeting: Institutionalizing high-level dialogue and reviewing bilateral cooperation mechanisms on a regular basis.

A target has been set to double the trade between the two countries in the next five years. India will assist in setting up the health infrastructure and vaccine hub in Ghana. India has already helped Ghana during the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, India had given six lakh Covid vaccines to Ghana.

India and Ghana will work together on issues such as climate change, the global south, and global justice. Both countries are members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), which works together in organisations such as the United Nations. Both countries decided to enhance cooperation in areas like defense, security, skill development, and agriculture.

WHAT DEFINES INDIA–GHANA ECONOMIC  RELATIONS?

 

 

Bilateral trade between India and Ghana stood at approximately USD 3 billion in 2023–24, forming a vital pillar of bilateral relations. India imports gold and cocoa from Ghana and exports pharmaceuticals, electrical goods, machinery, and automobiles to the West African country. 

Ghana is a key destination for Indian pharmaceutical exports, which are critical to the country’s healthcare system. The bilateral trade relationship is complemented by concessional financing support from India, which refers to financial assistance provided on terms substantially more generous than market loans, including lines of credit and grants amounting to nearly USD 450 million. These funds have enabled major projects such as rural electrification programmes, sugar processing plants, and fish-processing units.

MODI VISITED THE NKRUMAH MEMORIAL IN ACCRA

 

 

Nkrumah Memorial is the place where Kwame Nkrumah declared Ghana's independence. The memorial complex was dedicated in 1992 and is situated on the site of the former British colonial polo grounds in Accra. It is five acres in size. On the premises is a museum that has on display objects from various stages of his life.

 

 

PM MODI WAS AWARDED GHANA's NATIONAL HONOR

 

 

Prime Minister Modi received Ghana's national honour - Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana - from John Mahama for his distinguished statesmanship and impressive global leadership. With this, the number of international awards received by PM Modi has increased to 24.

PM Modi accepted this honour on behalf of 1.4 billion Indians and dedicated it to the youth of both countries ‍for their bright future, their aspirations, the rich cultural diversity of the country, and the historical relations between India and Ghana. PM Modi thanked the President of Ghana for this honor and called it a 'matter of immense pride'.

 

 PM MODI ADDRESSED THE PARLIAMENT OF GHANA

 

 

PM Modi while addressing the Parliament of Ghana spoke about the shared heritage and development journey of India-Africa. Both countries have agreed on a cultural cooperation programme for the preservation and promotion of art, music, literature, dance, and cultural heritage, which aims to promote cultural understanding as well as tourism.

Modi highlighted a major rail project that opened in the West African nation last year, financed by the India Export-Import Bank. Over 200 projects across the continent enhance connectivity, infrastructure, and Industrial capacity.

Modi announced digital payment systems and technology partnerships to link Ghana's new generation development. India will help Ghana in fintech and share experience in digital transactions.

 

 

THE BOND OF INDIA-GHANA RELATIONSHIP IS NOT NEW

 

 

The bond of the India-Ghana relationship is not new. People of Indian origin have been living here for years. Perhaps this is the reason why PM Modi has described the people of Indian origin living in Ghana as 'cultural ambassadors of India'.

Around 15 thousand Indians live in Ghana, out of which about 3 thousand have taken Ghanaian citizenship. There are some families who have been living in Ghana for more than 50 years. Most of the people here are Gujarati and Sindhi communities.

Modi and Ghanaian President John Mahama agreed to deepen security and mining ties. A landmark example is the Ghana–India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT, inaugurated in 2003, which serves as West Africa’s foremost hub for IT education and research. India provided the technical support, hardware, software, and training that laid the foundation for this centre.