PM Modi’s Historic Visit to Ghana: Recalibrating India–Africa Policy

Context:

• PM Narendra Modi visited Ghana in July 2025 — the first visit by an Indian PM in over 3 decades.
• Conferred with “Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana”, the country’s highest civilian honour.
• Visit part of a 5-nation tour (Ghana, Trinidad & Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, Namibia).

1. Strategic Significance

• Counters China’s deep economic influence in Africa by projecting India as a development partner based on mutual respect and democratic values.
• Revives India’s Africa policy through Comprehensive Partnership framework.
• Reinforces India’s role as a voice of the Global South.

2. Key Outcomes & Agreements

• Comprehensive Partnership launched covering trade, defence, digital public infrastructure (DPI), and culture.
• Bilateral trade target: Double trade in 5 years.
• Indian companies already invested ~$2 billion in 900 projects in Ghana.
• MoUs signed:
  • Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP)
  • BIS–Ghana Standards Authority (standardization)
  • Ayurveda & traditional medicine collaboration (ITRA–ITAM)
  • Institutionalized Joint Commission Meeting

3. Sectoral Cooperation

• FinTech & DPI: India to help Ghana replicate UPI-based digital payments.
• Critical Minerals: Indian firms to explore & mine in Ghana to boost supply chains.
• Defence & Security: Training, cyber security, maritime security under “security through solidarity”.
• Counter-Terrorism: Joint stand — “terrorism is the enemy of humanity”.

4. Multilateral & Global South Engagement

• Both leaders emphasized diplomatic solutions to global conflicts — “This is not the era of war.”
• Ghana’s role in Voice of Global South Summit and AU’s permanent membership of G20 under India’s presidency highlighted.

5. Diaspora & Cultural Diplomacy

• Ghana hosts 15,000+ Indians, of which 3,000 hold Ghanaian citizenship.
• Vibrant Indian business community employing locals.
• PM Modi visited Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park – tribute to Ghana’s first president inspired by Mahatma Gandhi.
• Address to Ghana’s Parliament: “India–Ghana friendship sweeter than Ghana’s Sugarloaf Pineapple.”

6. Long-term Context

• India has supported 200+ projects in Africa and expanded diplomatic presence to 46 countries.
• Earlier India funded Ghana’s Presidential Palace ($135m) and Tema-Mpakadan Railway ($447m).
• India supplied COVID-19 vaccines to Ghana in 2021.
  
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  • Digital cooperation: India to assist Ghana in developing UPI-based FinTech infrastructure.
  
  • Economic dimension: Indian companies have invested ~$2 billion across 900 projects; both sides aim to double bilateral trade in 5 years.
  
  • Global South diplomacy: Leaders reaffirmed commitment to the Voice of Global South Summit and welcomed the African Union’s permanent membership in G20 under India’s presidency.
  
  Updated: Jul 03, 2025, 06:24:00 PM | ET