India-Ghana relations rest upon mutual trust, development partnership and presence of a sizeable Indian diaspora

Highlighting the importance of bilateral relations between India and Ghana, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan attended the swearing-in ceremony of President-elect Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Thursday.

Akufo-Addo had secured a second term in office during elections held in December 2020.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday, Muraleedharan discussed various issues of bilateral, regional, and international of interest to the two countries during his two-day visit to Accra, Ghana.

India-Ghana relations rest upon mutual trust, development partnership and presence of a sizable Indian diaspora, the External Affairs Ministry’s release added.

The minister’s visit to Ghana is a continuation of a series of high-level exchanges between the two countries.

President Ram Nath Kovind visited Ghana in June 2016 and President Akufo-Addo visited India in March 2018 for the Founding Conference of the International Solar Alliance. Also, Vice-President of Ghana, Dr.Mahamudu Bawumua visited in March 2019.

The economic cooperation between the two countries covers many areas. India has extended concessional lines of credit to Ghana worth nearly US$450 million. Ghana has also availed Buyers Credit from India for several infrastructure projects including the construction of the Tema-Mpakadan railway line.

Indian companies have invested over US$1.7 billion in 730 projects. Also, the bilateral trade between the two countries touched US$2.4 billion in 2019-20.

During his visit, the minister also inaugurated the PravasiBharatiyaDiwas Celebrations on Wednesday, rekindling the bond the Indian diasporas living in the African republic have with their homeland. He addressed the Indian community at a reception hosted by the High Commissioner of India to Ghana and interacted with the Malayalee Association of Ghana.