The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, arrived in Accra on Wednesday to a rousing welcome at the start of a two-day state visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties between India and Ghana.
In a significant gesture, President John Dramani Mahama personally received the Indian Prime Minister at the Kotoka International Airport, where the two leaders shared a warm embrace, symbolising the strong diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Expressing his gratitude for the warm reception, Prime Minister Modi took to Facebook shortly after his arrival, stating: “Landed in Accra, Ghana. I’m honoured by the special gesture of President John Dramani Mahama for welcoming me at the airport.”
“Our nations look forward to working together to strengthen our long-standing relationship and explore fresh avenues for collaboration,” the leader of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who became the Prime Minister in 2014, added.
The visit marks the first time in about 30 years that an Indian Prime Minister has visited Ghana.
Later in the day, the Prime Minister engaged with members of the Indian community in Accra amid enthusiastic cheers and cultural performances.
“Gladdened by the incredible warmth shown by the Indian community here in Accra, Ghana. The spirit of togetherness and the deep cultural linkages are truly wonderful,” he wrote in another Facebook post.
The visit is expected to focus on enhancing cooperation in key sectors such as trade, technology, education and infrastructure.
Schedule
The leaders will hold bilateral engagement, sign many agreements and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on various sectors of mutual benefits to both countries.
The talks are focused on agriculture, health, defence cooperation and the establishment of a joint commission.
There will also be discussions towards making Ghana the vaccine hub of Africa.
Among agreements to be signed would be an MoU between the Institute of Traditional and Alternative Medicine of the University of Ghana.
Prime Minister Modi will also be hosted to a state banquet, where he will be conferred with the country’s highest honour, “The Companion of the Order of the Star of Ghana.”
He will also address Parliament today and pay his respects to the memory of Ghana’s first President at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park.
Ghana and India have a special bond of friendship which commenced between Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, and India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.
Dr Nkrumah and Nehru played a pivotal role in shaping global politics during the Cold War era.
Together, they conceived the idea of non-alignment, a movement that aimed to promote peace and cooperation among nations without taking sides in the rivalry between the Soviet Union and the United States.
The initiative has been widely recognised as a significant contribution to global peace and stability.
The two countries have since enjoyed warm and friendly relations, built on a foundation of shared values and a common vision. It is not surprising that the Indian High Commission is located near the seat of Ghana’s government, the Jubilee House, which was also designed and built by an Indian company.
Trade volume between the two countries currently stands at $3 billion, down from a pre-COVID high of $4.5 billion, with gold being a major commodity driving the partnership.
There are many Indian companies operating in the country in the manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, agribusiness and retail business sectors, among other areas.
Source: graphic.com.gh
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