By Ollus Ndomu
Ghana and India have signed a wide-ranging Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost cooperation in vaccine production, defence, cyber security, and agriculture, marking a major milestone as Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the first Indian leader to visit Ghana in three decades.
Prime Minister Modi’s two-day state visit, which began on July 1, is the first leg of a five-nation African tour that will culminate at the BRICS Summit in Brazil.
Speaking alongside Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama at Jubilee House, Prime Minister Modi praised Ghana’s efforts to “reset” its economy and champion democracy in Africa.
“Today, we have taken a decision to double the ITEC and ICCR scholarships for Ghana. Work will be done to establish a school development centre to impart vocational education to the youth,” Modi announced.
Key Areas: From Vaccines to Cyber Defence
The new MoU covers a range of sectors, including healthcare, where India will partner Ghana in vaccine production and the establishment of Jan Aushadhi centres to deliver affordable and reliable care.
“India proposes setting up Jan Aushadhi centres to provide citizens of Ghana with affordable healthcare,” Modi said.
On security, both leaders pledged closer collaboration to tackle emerging threats.
“We will increase our cooperation in areas such as the training of armed forces, maritime security, defence supplies, and cyber security,” Modi promised, adding that India’s “security through solidarity” mantra will guide the partnership.
Permanent Joint Commission Established
President Mahama confirmed that Ghana and India had agreed to establish a permanent joint commission to track progress and expand their partnership.
“On the strength of our successful engagements, we have had a number of MoUs signed to give impetus to our commitment and aspirations for sustained and enhanced cooperation,” Mahama said.
He added that the MoU provides a framework for regular foreign office consultations and sector-specific agreements to benefit both countries.
Feed Ghana and Beyond
The leaders also highlighted agricultural cooperation, with India pledging support for Ghana’s flagship Feed Ghana programme to bolster food security.
“We will be happy to support President Mahama’s Feed Ghana programme,” said Modi.
The Ghanaian President described the visit and agreements as a “historic moment” in Ghana–India relations, adding that they would unlock new investments in energy, manufacturing, infrastructure, and human resources development.
Prime Minister Modi was later awarded Ghana’s highest state honour in recognition of his visit and his government’s push to strengthen ties with the African continent.
For AfricaWorld News, Accra.
