Ghana and India strengthen bilateral relations

Story by: Regina Bless

Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to deepening bilateral relations with India following bilateral discussions with India’s Minister of External Affairs, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Mr. Ablakwa said he valued the bilateral meeting and panel discussions with Dr. Jaishankar, describing Ghana and India as partners bound by longstanding solidarity and shared values.

He also announced that Ghana looks forward to hosting Dr. Jaishankar later this week during his historic visit to the country, following an invitation extended by the Ghanaian government.

According to Mr. Ablakwa, the visit is expected to strengthen cooperation in several strategic areas. These include pharmaceutical development under President John Dramani Mahama’s “Accra Reset” agenda, agricultural mechanisation and value addition, industrialisation and job creation, as well as expanded scholarship opportunities and information technology partnerships.

The planned areas of cooperation reflect efforts by both countries to broaden their partnership beyond traditional diplomatic relations and focus on sectors that can contribute to economic development, skills transfer and job creation.

Ghana and India have maintained diplomatic relations for decades, with cooperation spanning trade, education, technology, agriculture and other areas of mutual interest.