Ghana and India have solidified bilateral ties through the signing of a series of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at deepening cooperation in key sectors including vaccine production, defence and cybersecurity, agriculture, energy, and human resource development.
The agreements were signed during the two-day state visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived in Ghana as part of a five-nation Africa tour that will culminate at the BRICS summit in Brazil. Prime Minister Modi was also conferred with Ghana’s highest national honour during a ceremony on July 2, recognising his country’s long-standing friendship with Ghana and his support for development efforts across the African continent.
President John Dramani Mahama, speaking at a joint press conference at the Jubilee House in Accra, described the visit as historic and expressed optimism about the future of Ghana-India relations.
He said the two sides held “significant discussions” to deepen cooperation across various areas of the economy.
“These engagements have resulted in a number of memoranda of understanding signed between Ghana and India to give impetus to our commitment and aspirations for sustained and enhanced cooperation,” President Mahama said.
One of the key outcomes of the visit was the signing of an MoU to establish a permanent joint commission for cooperation between Ghana and India, which will serve as a framework for regular diplomatic and technical consultations.
The two countries will also increase collaboration through foreign office consultations and other bilateral diplomatic mechanisms.
Prime Minister Modi, speaking through an interpreter, pledged India’s full backing for President Mahama’s economic transformation agenda.
He announced a range of support programmes and new initiatives aimed at strengthening Ghana’s development drive.
“Today, we have taken a decision to double the ITEC and ICCR scholarships for Ghana. Work will also be done to establish a school development centre to impart vocational education to the youth. In agriculture, we are happy to support President Mahama’s Feed Ghana programme,” Prime Minister Modi stated.
In the area of health, India pledged to support the establishment of Jan Aushadhi centres in Ghana to provide affordable and reliable medicines. Vaccine production also featured prominently in the bilateral discussions, as did defence and cybersecurity cooperation.
“We will move forward with the mantra of ‘security through solidarity,’” Prime Minister Modi said. “Our cooperation will grow in areas such as training of armed forces, maritime security, defence supplies, and cyber security.”
In all, four key MoUs were signed, including one focused on a cultural exchange programme to promote collaboration in music, dance, literature, and heritage.
Another was signed between the Bureau of Indian Standards and the Ghana Standards Authority to enhance cooperation in standardisation and certification.
Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment to global peace and diplomacy, stating, “This is not the era of war. Problems should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.”
President Mahama described India as a strategic partner in Ghana’s development and praised Prime Minister Modi for his leadership and commitment to Africa.
The visit is expected to usher in a new era of comprehensive partnership between Ghana and India, with both countries committing to mutual support, technical cooperation, and enhanced trade and investment.
