All preparations are complete for the highly anticipated visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Ghana. The two-day state visit, beginning on July 2, marks a significant milestone in the growing diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations.
The visit is expected to feature high-level engagements focused on strengthening cooperation in critical sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, defense, and technology.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, described the visit as a testament to the longstanding and evolving partnership between Ghana and India. He emphasized that the occasion reflects a shared commitment to advancing mutual interests and deepening strategic collaboration.
Upon his arrival, Prime Minister Modi will be honored with a ceremonial guard of honour mounted by the Ghana Armed Forces—a gesture underscoring the importance Ghana places on the visit.
Prime Minister Modi and President John Dramani Mahama, along with their respective delegations, are scheduled to hold comprehensive bilateral talks aimed at exploring new avenues for cooperation and reinforcing existing partnerships.
A major highlight of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic visit to Ghana will be the signing of several landmark Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors.
Among the key agreements are:
- The establishment of a Ghana-India Joint Commission, which will serve as a formal framework for sustained diplomatic and economic collaboration.
- A partnership between Ghana’s University of Health and Allied Sciences and India’s Ministry of AYUSH, focusing on the promotion and development of traditional and alternative medicine.
- Cultural exchange programmes, designed to foster greater people-to-people connections and mutual understanding.
- Collaboration on vaccine production, with India pledging full support for Ghana’s ambition to become a vaccine manufacturing hub for the African continent.
- Standards cooperation, through a formal agreement between the Ghana Standards Authority and the Bureau of Indian Standards.
- Defense cooperation agreements, to strengthen security collaboration and capacity-building between the two countries.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, noted that the first day of the visit will conclude with a state banquet at Jubilee House, hosted by President John Dramani Mahama in honour of the Indian Prime Minister.
During the banquet, Prime Minister Modi will be presented with Ghana’s highest national distinction—the Companion of the Order of the Star of Ghana—in recognition of his leadership and contributions to advancing Ghana-India relations.
“This is a rare and prestigious honour, reserved for global leaders who have made exceptional contributions to strengthening ties with Ghana. Prime Minister Modi now joins an esteemed group of recipients, including President William Ruto of Kenya, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, and former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo,” the Minister stated.
Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa noted that the conferment highlights the deep ancestral ties and enduring friendship between Ghana and India—a relationship that dates back to 1953, when India established a consulate in Ghana, four years before the country gained independence.
He added that the vibrant Indian community in Ghana, particularly their longstanding involvement in trade and national development, has played a vital role in reinforcing the strong people-to-people connections between the two nations over the decades.
On Thursday, July 3, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to engage with the Indian community in Ghana and visit the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, where he will pay tribute to Ghana’s founding President. The visit also serves to honour the historic relationship between Kwame Nkrumah and India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru—visionaries who together championed the formation of the Non-Aligned Movement.
Highlighting the significance of the visit, Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa noted that Prime Minister Modi’s decision to begin his five-nation tour in Ghana reflects the strengthening ties and growing goodwill between the two countries.
“Ghana is both excited and proud to welcome Prime Minister Modi. His visit marks the beginning of a new chapter in strategic cooperation and reaffirms the deep historical and diplomatic bonds that connect our nations,” the Minister stated.
