Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with one of Ghana‘s highest national honours, the “Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana”, by President John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday, in recognition of Modi’s “distinguished” statesmanship and impactful global leadership, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in an official release.
Receiving the award on behalf of the 1.4 billion people of India, Prime Minister Modi dedicated the honour to the aspirations of India’s youth, the nation’s rich cultural heritage, its unity in diversity, and the deep-rooted historical relations between India and Ghana.
The Prime Minister also expressed gratitude to the people and leadership of Ghana for this special recognition.
Highlighting the shared democratic ideals and traditions that connect India and Ghana, Prime Minister Modi remarked that the award symbolises the strengthening of bilateral friendship and also places an added responsibility on him to further enhance the ties between the two countries.
He added that he was confident his historic State Visit to Ghana would inject fresh momentum into the India-Ghana partnership, the MEA statement noted.
‘Free Ghana’ Initiative
Earlier, Prime Minister Modi announced several initiatives aimed at boosting cooperation with Ghana, including the establishment of a Skill Development Centre to empower youth and support President Mahama’s ‘Feed Ghana’ initiative — a key pillar of Ghana’s agricultural development strategy.
Speaking at a joint press briefing alongside Ghanaian President John Mahama, Prime Minister Modi outlined plans to expand collaboration across critical sectors such as agriculture, education, defence, healthcare, and digital technology.
“We have decided to double the number of ITEC and ICCR scholarships available to Ghanaian students. Additionally, we will set up a Skill Development Centre to provide vocational education and training to Ghana’s youth,” Prime Minister Modi announced.
“In the field of agriculture, India is eager to partner with Ghana in advancing President Mahama’s ‘Feed Ghana’ initiative. We will also work through Jan Aushadhi Kendras to offer affordable, quality healthcare solutions to the people of Ghana, and strengthen cooperation in vaccine manufacturing,” he added.
Prime Minister Modi further announced India’s ambition to double its trade volume with Ghana over the next five years. He also proposed offering India’s digital payments platform, Bharat UPI, to Ghana to enhance financial inclusion and cross-border connectivity.
Ghanaian President John Mahama warmly welcomed Prime Minister Modi earlier in the day, stating that the visit reflects the enduring bonds of friendship between the two nations.
“This visit reaffirms the historic relationship shared by Ghana and India, a relationship rooted in the vision of Ghana’s first President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and India’s former Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Our friendship has only deepened over the decades, bringing tangible benefits to both our peoples,” President Mahama stated.
Prime Minister Modi’s trip marks the first official visit to Ghana by an Indian Prime Minister in over three decades.
The visit is widely expected to further strengthen the India-Ghana partnership, while also underscoring New Delhi’s continued commitment to enhancing engagement with Africa and the wider Global South.
(With inputs from IBNS)
