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Narendra Modi, the leader of the world’s largest democracy, India, will make a two-day official visit to Ghana, one of Africa’s few enduring liberal democracies, on July 2 to 3.
The purpose of the visit, according to President John Mahama’s spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, MP, is to highlight “the warm and longstanding friendly relations between Ghana and India, as well as the importance both nations place on strengthening their strategic partnership.”
President John Mahama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will discuss deepening cooperation in various sectors, including trade, investment, agriculture, technology, education, health care and energy, as well as exchanging views on issues of mutual interest, both regional and global. Democracy is not expected to be on the agenda.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit is part of a multi-nation tour. During July 2 to 9, he will visit Ghana, Trinidad & Tobago, Argentina, Brazil and Namibia and, on July 6 to 7, attend the 17th BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) annual summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The Ghana-India relationship goes back a long way. Strong foundations were laid by Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah and India’s first Prime Minister, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru.
The two leaders enjoyed a close personal friendship and were key leaders of the Non-Aligned Movement during the Cold War era. Over the years, several of Ghana’s presidents have visited India, including Nkrumah (1961), Limann (1961), Rawlings (1993, 1997), and Kufuor (2002, 2008).
There have also been regular ministerial and official visits from India to Ghana. Relations between Ghana and India are enhanced by the existence of a substantial Indian community in Ghana, numbering about 10,000, an Indian presence that goes back over 70 years to the era of British colonialism.
Indians’ business activities in Ghana contribute in a major way to India being the second largest investor in Ghana in terms of the number of projects.
In recent years, Ghana-India relations have expanded significantly across bilateral trade, defence and development cooperation. In March 2025, India exported $141 million worth of goods to Ghana and imported $239 million from the latter, indicating a negative trade balance of $97.6 million.
Between March 2024 and March 2025, India’s exports to Ghana increased by $31.8 million (29.1%) from $109 million to $141 million, while imports from Ghana increased by $206 million (634%) from $32.5 million to $239 million.
Ghana’s main exports to India in 2024-25 were gold ($125 million), Petroleum: Crude ($74.1 million), and cashew nuts ($16.9 million). India’s main exports to Ghana were: Other Construction Machinery ($28.3 million), Drug Formulations, Biologicals ($12.3 million), and Motor Vehicle/Cars ($8.36 million).
Under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme, Ghana benefits from extensive training opportunities in both the defence and civil sectors.
The 2021–2022 fiscal year saw Ghana receive about 40 defence training slots alongside about 35 scholarships from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, aimed at building specialised capacity within Ghana's security and administrative institutions.
Areas of training include cybersecurity, peacekeeping operations, and disaster management, contributing to greater institutional effectiveness in Ghana's armed forces.
Joint military exercises and knowledge-sharing initiatives between India and Ghana further bolster their security collaboration.
India's experience in peacekeeping supports Ghana's significant contributions to United Nations missions, particularly through institutions such as the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre in Accra.
India has played a crucial role in supporting Ghana’s infrastructure and digital transformation, particularly through concessional loans and grants.
The Pan-African e-Network Project provides tele-education and telemedicine services, enabling Ghanaian students and healthcare professionals to access Indian resources remotely.
Additionally, the Tema–Mpakadan Rail Line, primarily funded by a US$447 million credit facility from the India Exim Bank secured in late 2024.
This is to enhance regional trade connectivity, underpinning Ghana's ambition to become a logistics hub in West Africa.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Ghana from Wednesday, July 2 to Thursday, July 3, 2025, is exceptionally important within the context of his multi-nation tour.
It marks his first official visit to Ghana, indicating a significant milestone in the historically strong Ghana-India relationship.
Ghana’s selection as a stop in this tour underscores its democratic stability, strategic location along the Gulf of Guinea, and expanding trade and investment potential.
It is significant to know that among the countries he is visiting, Ghana is the only African country.
This visit is seen as part of India’s broader "Global South" engagement policy, which aims to strengthen ties with emerging economies.
Furthermore, it occurs just days before the 17th BRICS Summit, emphasising India’s commitment to engaging with African partners outside the BRICS bloc.
Modi’s stopover in Ghana signals India’s intention to solidify Ghana's role as a bridge between Africa and the BRICS world, advocating for greater African representation in multilateral institutions.
In conclusion, Modi’s visit to Ghana serves not only as a diplomatic milestone but also as a strategic move to reinforce Ghana's status as a priority partner in West Africa.
This visit is poised to deepen economic partnerships and enhance collaboration on key global issues, marking a new phase in Ghana-India relations.
The writers are an Emeritus Professor of Politics, London Metropolitan University, UK and a Political Scientist.
