PM Modi’s Landmark Visit to Ghana: Strengthening India–Ghana Ties Through Trade, Tech & Defence -

India and Ghana share over seven decades of diplomatic ties dating back to the early 1950s, built on mutual respect, non-alignment ideals, and shared colonial histories. This relationship has matured into a robust partnership characterized by cooperation in trade, development assistance, defence, education, and cultural exchange. India opened its representative office in Accra in 1953—four years before Ghana’s independence and both countries have since navigated the global stage together, forging one of India’s most enduring ties in West Africa.

PM Modi’s Landmark Visit: Cementing a New Phase

Prime Minister Narendra Modi set the tone for historic ties when he became the first Indian PM in 30 years to visit Ghana (July 2–3, 2025). During this two-day visit, he addressed Ghana’s Parliament and was honored with the prestigious Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana, recognizing his diplomatic leadership. At the heart of his talks with President John Dramani Mahama were bold ambitions: to double bilateral trade within five years, expand defence cooperation, digitize finance, and deepen cultural ties through four new Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs).

Expanding Economic and Investment Linkages

India–Ghana trade stood at around US $3 billion in 2023, driven largely by Ghana’s gold exports to India and India’s exports of pharmaceuticals, machinery, electronics, and light manufacturing goods. Indian companies have invested across over 820 projects worth nearly US $1.9 billion, spanning pharmaceuticals, ICT, construction, agro-processing, and manufacturing. During PM Modi’s visit, both nations announced a target to double this trade volume within five years. Notably, India reaffirmed concessional Lines of Credit and grants totaling over US $450 million to support Ghanaian infrastructure, digital systems, and vaccine manufacturing.

Digital & Technological Cooperation: A Modern Transformation

Digital trade and innovation are emerging as new frontiers in the India–Ghana partnership. A highlight is the integration of India’s UPI (Unified Payments Interface) with Ghana’s GHIPSS, enabling instant, low-cost, cross-border transactions. This initiative, set for operational rollout within six months, reflects India’s leadership in fintech and Ghana’s eagerness to embrace digital public infrastructure.

Furthermore, India’s SatCom Industry Association inked an MoU with Ghana’s Space Science & Technology Institute (GSSTI) in December 2024 to deepen collaboration in satellite communications—providing Accra with space-tech capacity. In telecom, Reliance Jio, Tech Mahindra, and Nokia are building 4G and 5G networks in Ghana, duplicating India’s telecom boom and enhancing connectivity across West Africa.

Infrastructure & Defence: Securing Mutual Futures

Strategic infrastructure cooperation has long been a hallmark of this partnership. Between 2016 and 2024, India extended buyer’s credit to Ghana worth over US $447 million for major projects such as the Tema–Mpakadan Standard Gauge Railway vital for regional transport and economic development. Ongoing Lines of Credit also support roads, agricultural machinery, and mechanisation. Defence and security ties received a fresh boost during PM Modi’s visit. Both governments agreed to expand defence training, maritime security, and defence equipment exports, under a philosophy of “security through solidarity.” They also committed to deeper intelligence-sharing and a united approach to counter-terrorism cooperation.

Culture, Education & People-to-People Connection

India and Ghana have promoted educational and cultural interaction consistently. The Ghana–India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT in Accra, established in 2003, underscores this link. Recent educational fairs in Kumasi and Accra foster engagement between Indian universities and Ghanaian students, part of ongoing South-South cooperation under ITEC and ICCR scholarships. Cultural diplomacy strengthened further via the signing of an MoU for a cultural exchange programme aimed at amplifying artistic video, dance, literature, and heritage exchanges.

Looking Ahead: A Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

India and Ghana’s recent interactions have transformed their relationship into a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership encompassing trade, fintech, infrastructure, defence, culture, and technology. Their collaborative goal to double trade, the acceleration of digital payment integration, the expansion of defence training, and the cultural MoUs reflect a bold new direction. Holistically, this alignment benefits both nations: Ghana gains enhanced infrastructure, investment, digital inclusion, and food-security support; India gains strategic depth in West Africa an economic gateway and a key diplomatic ally. Their partnership aligns with India’s “Act East” diplomacy pivoting into “Act Africa,” while Ghana capitalizes on India’s maturing ecosystem.

Conclusion

From historic diplomatic visits to impactful tech and economic deals, India–Ghana ties are entering a transformative chapter. The symbolic honours, ambitious trade targets, and multi-sectoral MoUs collectively underline a confident leap forward one rooted in equitable, forward-looking partnership. As these nations execute on digital payment rollouts, infrastructure projects, defence collaboration, and vaccine manufacturing, their bilateral relationship is evolving into a blueprint for South-South cooperation in the 21st century.

Sources:

More Current Affairs: https://learnproacademy.in/updates/