The High Commission of India in Ghana has celebrated Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas (PBD) 2026, an annual event recognising the contributions of the Indian diaspora as a vital bridge between India and Ghana, strengthening bilateral relations and fostering socio-economic collaboration.
The Accra-based event featured a cultural dance performance celebrating India’s rich heritage, alongside a panel discussion on the theme “Shared Spaces, Shared Future: The Indian Community’s Journey in Ghana.” Members of the Indian community shared experiences of integration, socio-economic contribution, and cultural engagement, highlighting their role as ambassadors of Indian values in their country of residence. Officials of the High Commission, diaspora members, and their families participated in the celebrations, exchanging knowledge, experiences, and cultural insights.
High Commissioner Shri Manish Gupta emphasised the diaspora’s role in deepening bilateral ties, promoting Indian culture, and contributing to Ghana’s socio-economic development.
Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas is observed annually in India to commemorate the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa in 1915, marking the beginning of his international influence. The day also serves as a platform for dialogue between the Indian government and overseas citizens, focusing on trade, investment, education, cultural exchange, and entrepreneurship. In India, the celebrations include conferences, awards, and events recognising the achievements of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) worldwide.
The observance also highlights the role of the Indian diaspora in promoting India’s soft power abroad. Over the years, PBD has become a means to strengthen people-to-people ties, foster entrepreneurship, and facilitate collaboration between Indian communities overseas and the government. In Ghana, the celebration aimed to recognise the diaspora’s integration, service, and cultural contributions, reinforcing the link between India and Ghana through shared heritage and mutual engagement.
India and Ghana share a longstanding diplomatic relationship, dating back to 1953 when India opened a consulate in Accra, and formally establishing full diplomatic ties immediately after Ghana’s independence in 1957. The Indian High Commission in Accra is also concurrently accredited to Burkina Faso, Togo, and Sierra Leone, while Ghana maintains its High Commission in New Delhi.
The relationship has been underpinned by strong personal ties between Ghana’s first President, Kwame Nkrumah, and India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, with subsequent state visits by Ghanaian presidents and Indian leaders reinforcing cooperation. Both countries are founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement, the Government of India’s Team-9 initiative, and active participants in the Commonwealth.
Bilateral relations were revitalized in the early 2000s under President John Kufuor, with India providing support for major infrastructure projects, including Ghana’s seat of government. The partnership has been further strengthened through south-south cooperation, facilitating the exchange of knowledge, skills, and technologies among developing nations.
Since 2014, India’s engagement with Ghana has intensified under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reflecting a broader strategy to deepen India-Africa relations through development-focused, capacity-building initiatives.
In July 2025, Prime Minister Modi visited Ghana as part of a five-nation African tour, highlighting India’s model of partnership in contrast to traditional lending practices, and emphasizing demand-driven, locally empowering collaboration. During the visit, India and Ghana signed four Memoranda of Understanding covering cultural exchange, standards and certification, education and research in traditional medicine, and the institutionalization of regular high-level bilateral dialogue.
PM Modi was honored at the Ghanaian Parliament with the national award, Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana, underscoring the strength and significance of the India-Ghana partnership in the 21st century.
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