External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has emphasized that India and Ghana are historical partners and champions of the Global South, noting that both nations share remarkably similar development programmes to tackle common challenges.
Visiting Ghana on the first leg of a three-nation African tour, Dr. Jaishankar met with his Ghanaian counterpart Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and President John Dramani Mahama. He highlighted that this visit follows up on PM Narendra Modi’s historic visit to Ghana in July 2025, the first prime ministerial trip from India in three decades.
During discussions on taking their comprehensive partnership to the next level, Dr. Jaishankar pointed out striking parallels in national initiatives between the two countries. He said that Ghana’s health initiative ‘Accra Reset’ aligns with India’s ‘Ayushman Bharat’, just as Ghana’s ‘Feed Ghana’ food security drive mirrors India’s focus on farmers and millets, and Ghana’s goal of training 1 million coders echoes ‘Digital India’ and ‘Startup India’. Because developing nations face shared challenges, he stressed that it is natural for both countries to pool their experiences and support one another.
To strengthen cooperation, India and Ghana exchanged two key Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) during the visit: one between the Zoological Survey of India and the University of Ghana for scientific research and capacity building, and another between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and Ghana’s CSIR-Crops Research Institute. Both nations are also looking to expand collaboration into pharmaceuticals, mining, defense, railways, and digital sectors.
EAM Jaishankar praised the vibrant Indian business community in Ghana, describing them as a vital “living bridge” between the two societies. He acknowledged Ghana’s key leadership roles in ECOWAS and its upcoming presidency of the African Union in 2027, noting India’s deep appreciation for Ghana’s voice in global forums.
Furthermore, he highlighted Ghana’s strong advocacy in the UN for meeting sustainable development goals which have unfortunately fallen behind this decade due to multiple conflicts, COVID-19, and other challenges, while also commending Ghana’s commitment to reparatory justice and its role as a founding member of Indian-led global initiatives like the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.
(PTI)
