Ghana and India Forge Comprehensive Partnership as Mahama Hosts Modi in Landmark Visit
Ghana and India have agreed to elevate bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Partnership following high-level talks in Accra between President John Dramani Mahama and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking the first visit by an Indian leader to Ghana in more than three decades.
The wide-ranging discussions—covering trade, investment, critical minerals, defence cooperation, and digital innovation—signal both countries’ ambition to deepen economic collaboration while reinforcing longstanding diplomatic ties.
The two leaders committed to doubling bilateral trade, which currently stands at approximately $3 billion, within five years. Ghana enjoys a trade surplus largely due to gold exports, though volumes have yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels of $4.5 billion.
“Today’s discussions were extremely fruitful and reflect our shared vision of mutual growth, peace, and solidarity,” Prime Minister Modi said after the talks, which also addressed global security challenges, maritime cooperation, and cyber security.
The elevation to a Comprehensive Partnership, while largely symbolic, is expected to catalyse new investment flows and strengthen commercial links. Both sides also reiterated their opposition to terrorism and called for peaceful resolution of international conflicts, with Modi affirming that “this is not an era of war.”
In recognition of his global leadership and statesmanship, Prime Minister Modi was awarded Ghana’s highest national honour, “The Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana,” by President Mahama during a state ceremony.
The visit reaffirmed deep historical ties dating back to the pre-independence era, with Mahama highlighting the role of India’s diaspora in Ghana’s economic growth, particularly in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and manufacturing.
India’s development footprint in Ghana is substantial, with over $450 million in lines of credit extended over the past two decades to finance flagship projects ranging from infrastructure to energy and technology. Notable initiatives include the Kofi Annan ICT Centre of Excellence, the Komenda Sugar Factory, and the Tema-Mpakadan Railway Line.
India’s emergence as a global economic powerhouse, coupled with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) headquartered in Accra, offers renewed opportunities for Ghana to integrate more competitively into global value chains. Both leaders acknowledged the role of technology, FinTech, and skills development as key drivers of this future cooperation.
While no new investment agreements were signed during the visit, follow-up discussions are expected to translate the elevated partnership into tangible commercial outcomes.
Modi’s itinerary also includes engagements with Ghana’s Indian community, a visit to the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, and an address to Ghana’s Parliament, further underlining the symbolic weight of the historic trip.
As both nations look to the future, the visit underscores a shared commitment to South-South cooperation, economic resilience, and multilateralism in an increasingly fragmented global order.
