President John Dramani Mahama welcomes Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to GhanaPresident John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Ghana, marking the first visit by a sitting Indian Prime Minister to the West African country in three decades.
“I welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to our beautiful country this afternoon for a two-day official visit,” President Mahama said in a statement shared shortly after the Indian leader’s arrival. “This is the first visit by an Indian PM to Ghana in 30 years and we are looking forward to very productive bilateral engagements on various areas of cooperation between our two countries.”
Prime Minister Modi’s visit is expected to revitalise and expand Ghana-India relations, with both countries poised to sign new agreements across sectors such as trade and investment, energy, healthcare, digital technology, and education. The visit also reflects India’s renewed commitment to strengthening its strategic partnerships across Africa.
Strengthening Decades of Ties
Ghana and India share a long-standing diplomatic relationship, dating back to the early post-independence era. India was one of the first countries to establish a mission in Accra, and its political solidarity with Ghana during the Kwame Nkrumah era laid the foundation for decades of bilateral cooperation.
India has supported Ghana through lines of credit for infrastructure, capacity building through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme, and scholarships for Ghanaian students.
Trade between the two nations has steadily grown over the years, with India ranking among Ghana’s top trading partners. Ghana exports gold, cocoa, and crude oil to India, while importing pharmaceuticals, machinery, and electronics.
High-Level Engagements and Recognition
During his stay, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to hold high-level talks with President Mahama at Jubilee House and will address Ghana’s Parliament, becoming one of the few foreign leaders to do so. The two leaders are expected to witness the signing of multiple memoranda of understanding (MoUs), aimed at enhancing bilateral development cooperation.
In recognition of his contributions to international diplomacy and deepening South-South cooperation, Prime Minister Modi is also set to receive Ghana’s highest national honour — the Order of the Star of Ghana.
This prestigious award places him alongside a distinguished list of global figures, including the late former French President Jacques Chirac, former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo, and current Kenyan President William Ruto.
A Gateway Visit
The timing of the visit is significant as Ghana works to expand its international partnerships, especially within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), headquartered in Accra. Analysts say India’s outreach could position it as a key partner in Africa’s industrial and digital transformation.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Ghana is part of a broader Africa tour, underscoring New Delhi’s efforts to reset and deepen its engagement with the continent in the face of growing competition from other global powers.
The two-day trip is expected to end with a joint communiqué outlining a new phase in Ghana-India relations.
