High Commission of India

Accra, Ghana

PRESS RELEASE
Minister of State for External Affairs visit to Ghana from 6-7 January, 2021

The Minister of State for External Affairs of India, Hon’ble V. Muraleedharan, accompanied by a senior officer in the Foreign Ministry of India, paid a two-day visit to  Accra, Ghana from 6-7 January, 2021.  The Minister of State of India was in Ghana to participate in the Presidential Inaugural Ceremony of President -elect H.E.Nana Addo Dankwa Akkufo-Addo that took place on 7th January, 2021. The visit reflects India’s friendly and close ties with Ghana.

On arrival on the 6th January, the Hon. Minister was received by the High Commissioner of India to Ghana H.E. Shri Sugandh Rajaram and other senior officials of foreign office protocol. Minister of State met the Malayalee Association of Ghana in the afternoon of 6th January.  He addressed the Indian Indian Community in Ghana in a community reception hosted by the High Commission of India, Accra.and launched the  PravasiyaBhartiyaDiwas celebrations.  He also launched the Indian Community Forum in Ghana, an initiative of the High Commission of India during the event. Thereafter, the Indian High Commissioner hosted a dinner in honour of the Minister of State, where senior Ministers and dignitaries of Ghana were present.

On 7th January, the Minister of State participated in the swearing-in ceremony of President -elect H.E.Nana Addo Dankwa Akkufo-Addo.In the afternoon of 7th January, the Minister of State called on the President of Ghana and conveyed the greetings & good wishes of leadership in India on his assuming office of President of Ghana for a second term.  During his discussions with the President, he conveyed his support for deepening India-Ghana relations in all areas of mutual interest.Before departure to India in the evening of 7th January, he waswarmly hosted by the Indian Association of Ghana, an umbrella association representing the vibrant Indian community in Ghana.

India shares close, warm and friendly relations with Ghana which are cemented by mutual trust, development partnership and presence of a sizable Indian diaspora.  In the last few years, India’s engagement in various fields with Ghana has intensified.  To mention a few recent visits, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akkufo-Addo, President of Republic of Ghana visited India for the Founding Conference of the International Solar Alliance in March 2018.  H.E. Dr.MahamuduBawumia, Vice President of Ghana was Guest of Honour at the 14th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave held in March, 2019 at New Delhi.Hon’ble President of India’s first ever State visit to Ghana took place from 12-14 June 2016. 

Besides there have been several ministerial/high level visits from Ghana to India and vice-versa in the recent past. India has extended concessional lines of credit and Buyers credit lines facility to Ghana close to one billion US Dollars in sectors such as agriculture, water, transport, transmission line, infrastructure, railways, etc.  The iconic Jubilee House that was constructed with Indian assistance stands testimony to the excellent bilateral relations between the two countries. The bilateral trade has remained modest in the recent years and it was US$ 4.5 billion in 2018-19 and US$2.4 billion in 2019-20.  India is one of the largest investors in Ghana and from 1994 to 2019, Indian companies had invested over US $ 1.7 billion in Ghana over 730 projects in diverse sectors of the Ghanaian economy.

The participation of the Minister of State for External Affairs of India in the presidential inaugural ceremony shows the importance that India attaches to Ghana.  The visit is expected to provide further momentum to bilateral partnership and enhance the mutual goodwill of people in both countries             

                                                                                            *****

8th January, 2021