Non-Aligned Movement has urged its Member States to deepen their relations and establish a framework for mutual cooperation. The visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Ghana on July 2 and July 3, 2025, has deepened India–Ghana relations, aligning with the Non-Aligned Movement’s call for its Member States to strengthen South–South cooperation and deepen bilateral ties across regions. The visit of the Indian PM highlights the warm and longstanding friendly relations between Ghana and India, as well as the importance both nations place on strengthening their strategic partnership.
The Indian Prime Minister had a meeting with the President of. Dr. John Dramani Mahama at the Jubilee House in Accra. An important outcome of the meeting was the elevation of the relations between the two countries to a Comprehensive Partnership. According to an official statement, “both leaders reaffirmed the warm and time-tested ties between India and Ghana and discussed ways to expand cooperation in key areas including trade & investment, agriculture, capacity building, digital technology, infrastructure, and people-to-people ties. They welcomed the growing bilateral trade and Indian investments in Ghana.” India has been a leading assistance provider to development projects in Ghana and extended approximately US$ 450 million in concessional credit and grants, supporting a wide range of developmental projects. Key initiatives include the Rural Electrification Project (2003), the establishment of the India-Ghana Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence for ICT (2003), and the construction of the Jubilee House Presidential Complex (2008). India also funded the Komenda Sugar Plant and Elmina Fish Processing Plant in 2016. The Foreign Service Training Institute, partially funded through a US$ 5 million Line of Credit (LoC), was completed and handed over in March 2023. India provided US$ 1 million in grant assistance each for upgrading the Kofi Annan ICT Centre (2016) and rehabilitating the Jubilee House (2017). Through Buyers’ Credit, India extended US$ 398.33 million for the Tema-Akosombo railway line and US$ 48.84 million for its extension to Mpakadan. The Tema-Mpakadan Standard Gauge Railway Line, inaugurated in November 2024, is a US$ 447 million, 97.7 km project including a bridge over the Volta River, forming part of the Ghana–Burkina Faso connectivity corridor. It was in this context that Modi remarked: “In Ghana’s journey of nation building, India is not just a supporter, but also a fellow traveller. The Grand Jubilee House, the Foreign Services Institute, Komenda Sugar Factory, India-Ghana Kofi Annan ICT Centre, and the Tema Mpakadan Railway Line – they’re not just bricks and mortar, but a symbol of our partnership. Our bilateral trade has crossed USD 3 billion. Indian companies have invested approximately USD 2 billion across approximately 900 projects.” The Indian Prime Minister announced that a target to double the bilateral trade between the two countries has been set over the next five years.
Prime Minister Modi highlighted India and Ghana’s shared commitment as members of the Global South, thanking Ghana for its active role in the Voice of Global South Summit. He welcomed the African Union’s G20 membership under India’s presidency and emphasized joint concerns over terrorism, agreeing to deepen counter-terrorism cooperation. Both nations share aligned views on UN reforms and stressed resolving global conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy, not war. During his address to the Parliament of Ghana, the Indian Prime Minister stressed that global progress could not be achieved without giving a voice to the Global South, and that more than plain slogans, actions were needed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Ghana also led to the signing of four significant Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation across diverse sectors. A Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP) was agreed upon to promote mutual understanding through art, music, dance, literature, and heritage. A second MoU between the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) seeks to strengthen collaboration in standardization and certification. The third MoU, between Ghana’s Institute of Traditional & Alternative Medicine (ITAM) and India’s Institute of Teaching & Research in Ayurveda (ITRA), focuses on advancing education, training, and research in traditional medicine. Lastly, an MoU on Joint Commission Meetings was signed to institutionalize high-level dialogue and enable regular reviews of bilateral cooperation.
During his visit to Ghana, the Indian Prime Minister also visited the Nkrumah Memorial Park in Accra, Ghana, and paid tribute to Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s founding President. a revered leader of the African independence movement and also a pioneer in the Non-Aligned Movement.
In his address to the Ghana Parliament, PM Modi said, “India and Ghana share a dream. A dream where every child gets opportunities. Where every voice is heard. Where nations rise together, not apart. Dr Nkrumah had said, and I quote, “I am not African because I was born in Africa. But because Africa was born in me.” In the same way, India carries Africa in its heart. Let us build a partnership not only for today, but for generations to come.” These lines highlight the strong bonds between India and Ghana.
