Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched down in Ghana this morning, opening a two-day state visit aimed at deepening economic and development ties between New Delhi and Accra. It is the first trip to Ghana by an Indian head of government since 1995.
Vaccine hub and direct investments
During the visit, officials from both countries are expected to sign a slate of agreements, including a flagship memorandum to establish a vaccine-manufacturing hub in Ghana. The project, to be developed with Indian technical support and financing, is intended to boost regional vaccine production capacity and reduce dependence on imports.
Other accords on the table cover agriculture, education, alternative medicine, digital infrastructure and the creation of a Ghana–India Joint Commission that will meet regularly to coordinate cooperation across ministries.
Parliamentary address and top honour
Modi is scheduled to address Ghana’s Parliament on Thursday—a distinction granted to only a handful of world leaders—and will receive the Companion of the Order of the Star of Ghana, the nation’s highest civilian honour. The award recognises India’s decades-long contribution to Ghana’s development, from concessional credit lines for infrastructure to the landmark Ghana–India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT.
Trade recovering after pandemic shock
Bilateral trade stood at roughly USD 3 billion in 2024/25, rebounding from pandemic lows though still below the pre-COVID peak of USD 4 billion. Ghana exports gold, cocoa and cashew to India, while importing Indian pharmaceuticals, machinery and electrical goods.
Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said Accra hopes the visit will “unlock new investment flows” and help restore trade to pre-pandemic levels and beyond. India already ranks among the top investors in Ghana, with projects spanning agro-processing, mining, rail transport and ICT.
Diaspora and shared history
Roughly 15,000 people of Indian origin live in Ghana, some tracing their family roots back to the 1950s. Both nations were founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement and have historically cooperated on decolonisation and South–South solidarity.
Next African stop: Namibia
After wrapping up engagements in Accra, Modi will proceed to Namibia, where he is expected to hold talks with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on renewable energy, rare-earth minerals and wildlife conservation.
Analysts say the Ghana and Namibia stops underscore India’s intention to widen its footprint on the continent, positioning itself as a long-term partner in health security, digital innovation and value-added manufacturing—areas where African governments are seeking new investment and know-how.