Marking a strategic diplomatic push to secure critical minerals, bolster energy security and strengthen ties ahead of the upcoming India-Africa Forum Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Ghana (July 2–3) and Namibia (July 9) as part of his tour of Africa and the Caribbean.
Ghana and Namibia have emerged as key players in India’s Africa strategy. Namibia is rich in uranium, lithium, copper, graphite, vanadium, and rare earths — vital for India’s clean energy, EV, and semiconductor ambitions. Ghana, on the other hand, supplies gold, bauxite, timber, cocoa, and cashew — all essential for industrial growth and food security.
At a media briefing in New Delhi on June 30, Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (ER) Dammu Ravi highlighted India’s development-first approach: “Africa is becoming more aspirational. It wants value addition, manufacturing, and technology transfer on its own soil. India, with its partnership-based model, is well-positioned to deliver — from critical minerals to digital innovation.”
PM Modi’s visit will be the first by an Indian Prime Minister to Ghana in over 30 years. A range of agreements is expected in agriculture, healthcare, vaccine collaboration, and critical mineral infrastructure. India has already extended over $450 million in grants and concessional credit to Ghana.
Key projects include the Tema-Mpakadan Railway Line ($447 million), Komenda Sugar Plant, Elmina Fish Processing Plant, Kofi Annan ICT Centre, and Rural Electrification initiatives.
India’s soft power footprint is growing — with over 1,600 Ghanaian students benefitting from e-learning and scholarships under the e-VBAB programme. Defence ties are also expanding, with hundreds of training slots offered annually. Bilateral trade hit $3.1 billion in FY 2024–25. Ghana’s key exports to India include gold, cocoa, and timber, while Indian exports span pharmaceuticals, cereals, machinery, steel, and textiles.
“Ghana is a long-standing friend and a pro-South voice in West Africa. Its move to reduce French and Western dependency makes it a natural partner for India’s development-led approach,” Prof. Ajay Dubey of JNU told StratNewsGlobal.
In Namibia, Modi will meet President Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah — the country’s first woman head of state and a long-time friend of India. This is the first prime ministerial visit to Namibia in 27 years, and the first official bilateral engagement with the new government.
Namibia’s wealth of uranium, lithium, graphite, vanadium, and rare earths aligns with India’s clean tech priorities. India has previously imported uranium from Namibia, and the visit is expected to advance cooperation in joint exploration, processing, and technology transfer.
Key highlights of the visit include Inauguration of UPI interoperability, Defence cooperation, including on-site training, Expansion of scholarship and IT collaboration, and a tribute to Founding President Sam Nujoma.
India supported Namibia’s independence struggle before 1947, and formal diplomatic ties began in 1986, when SWAPO opened its first mission in India.
This two-nation tour comes amid growing global competition in Africa — from China’s infrastructure-led outreach to the West’s push for mineral security. India’s model, experts say, distinguishes itself by prioritizing capacity building, human development, and equal partnership.
“India is reasserting its leadership through high-level engagement,” says Prof. Dubey. “African nations have often voiced frustration at the lack of top-level Indian attention. This visit corrects that and demonstrates intent at the highest level.”
India has hosted three India-Africa Forum Summits (2008, 2011, 2015), and a fourth is expected soon, with renewed focus on digital public goods, infrastructure, and mineral supply chains.
India’s successful push for the African Union’s inclusion in the G20 last year has also laid the groundwork for deeper coordination with the continent.
As the global race for sustainable resources intensifies, Modi’s visits to Ghana and Namibia position India not just as another actor in Africa — but as a trusted, long-term partner invested in shared growth.
