High Commission of India

Accra, Ghana

High Commission of India

Accra

Brief on India – Ghana Bilateral Relations

India-Ghana relations have traditionally been warm and friendly resting on solid foundation anchored in shared values and common vision. India opened its representative office in Accra in 1953, prior to Ghana’s independence and established full-fledged diplomatic relations with Ghana in 1957, immediately after it attained independence.

A. POLITICAL:

Exchange of high-level visits: The first ever State Visit of President of India to Ghana was on 12-14 June 2016, helped further strengthen bilateral ties between India and Ghana. (The only other earlier VVIP visit from India to Ghana was that of the Prime Minister Narasimha Rao on 8-9 November 1995.) Shri V Muralidharan, MOS for External Affaiars visited Ghana from 6-7 January 2021 for participating the Presidential Inauguration of President Akufo-Addo who got reelected in the Presidential elections held in December 2020. Earlier Shri M.J. Akbar, MOS visited Ghana from 14-16 August 2017 for India@70 celebrations in Ghana.

From the Ghanaian side, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo visited India to participate in the Founding Conference of International Solar Alliance (ISA) held at New Delhi on 11 March 2018. Earlier President John Dramani Mahama visited India to participate in the 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) on 27-29 October 2015. [Earlier Presidential visits from Ghana to India include President Kufuor in August 2002 and April 2008 (for 1^st IAFS); President Rawlings in 1993; President Limann in 1981; and President Nkrumah in 1961.] Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of Ghana, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, paid an official visit to India on 16-18 July 2018. She also visited India for UNSC Counter Terrorism Committee (CTC) Special meeting in Mumbai & New Delhi on 27-30 October, 2022.

In addition, there have been regular Ministerial visits from Ghana to India. The visits since 2018 include: Deputy Minister of Communications for International Business Expo by Telecom Equipment and Services Export Promotion Council at New Delhi (22-23 February 2018); Deputy Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation for World Sustainable Development Summit at New Delhi (15-17 February 2018); Deputy Minister of Trade for Informal Gathering of Ministers responsible for WTO at New Delhi (19-20 March 2018); Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources for Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention at New Delhi (29 September-2 October 2018); Deputy Minister of Energy for 1^st General Assembly of ISA at New Delhi (2-5 October 2018); Deputy Minister of Defence for AERO INDIA 2019 at Bengaluru (20-24 February 2019); Deputy Minister of Energy for discusions with Department of Atomic Energy, Mumbai (27-29 May 2019); Deputy Minister of Road and Highways for India-Africa Higher Education and Skill Development Summit at New Delhi (26-27 August 2019); Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs to co-Chair Foreign Office Consultations on 28 August 2019; Minister for Railway Development for International Railway Equipment Exhibition (IREE 2019) in New Delhi (21-23 October 2019); Minister of Lands and Natural Resources for Kimberly Process Plenary Meeting at New Delhi (18-22 November 2019); Deputy Minister of Energy for 2nd Global Sigma Summit 2020 New Delhi (9-11 January 2020); Deputy Minister of Energy to sign MOU with Indian Oil Corporation (21-25 January 2020). After the travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic lifted, Hon. Kwaku Ampratwum Sarpong, Dy. Minister of Foreign Affairs participated in Raisina Dialogue from 25-27 April, 2022. The Deputy Minister for Energy, Hon. William O. Aidoo attended the Fifth Assembly of International Solar Alliance (ISA) in New Delhi on 18 October 2022. Defence Minister Hon’ble Dominic Aduna Nitiwul visited India for India Africa Defence Dialogue and DefExpo 2022 in Gandhinagar from 17-21 October 2022. Maj. Gen. Francis Adu-Amanfoh (retd), Special Advisor to the President of Ghana on the Accra initiative, attended the 3^rd Ministerial Conference on Counter Terrorism Financing “No Money For Terror (NMFT)” held from 18-19 Nov 2022 in New Delhi.

Parliamentary interaction: A five-member’s Parliamentary delegation led by Hon. Jospeh Osei-Owusu, First Deputy Speaker of the Parliament participated in Mid-year Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) held in Assam from 6-11 April 2022. The CPA delegation was joined by other MPs for a Study Tour from 12-20 April 2022.

Bilateral Mechanisms & Agreements

Joint Commission (JC): An MoU to establish JC for Economic, Technical & Cultural Cooperation was signed on 9 November 1995 during PM’s visit to Ghana. (An Agreement on Economic, Scientific & Technical Coop was earlier signed on 12 October 1981 during President Limann’s visit to India.) A new MoU for establishment of JC was signed on 13 June 2016 during President of India’s visit to Ghana.

Foreign Office Consultations (FOC): A Protocol on FOC between the MEA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ghana was signed on 5 August 2002. The 1st FOC was held in New Delhi on 28 August 2019 which was co-chaired by Secretary ER on Indian side and Dy Foreign Minister Charles Owiredu on Ghanaian side. The 2nd   FOC was held in Accra on 2 July 2021 which was co-chaired by Secretary ER and Dy FM Kwaku Ampratwum Sarpong. The 3rd FOC was held in New Delhi on 22 July 2022 and were co-chaired by Joint Secretary (Central & West Africa) on Indian side and Mr. Kwaku Apratwum-Sarpong, Deputy Foreign Minister on Ghanaian side.

Ghana-India Parliamentary Friendship Association (PFA): An informal group has been established by the members of the Ghanaian Parliament.

Joint Trade Committee (JTC): A Bilateral Trade Agreement was signed on 12 October 1981 during President Limann’s visit to India. Accordingly a JTC established. The 1st JTC meeting was held in Accra in September 1992. The 2nd meeting of the JTC was held in Delhi on 20-21 January 2011. JTC: The 3rd meeting of the JTC was held in New Delhi on 21 July 2022. The Indian side was led by Joint Secretary(FT-Africa), Ministry of Commerce where as the Ghanaian side was led by Mr. Micheal O. Baafi, Deputy Minister for Trade & Industry.

India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS): Ghanaian President Kufuor attended the 1st IAFS in April 2008 in Delhi. President Mahama participated in the 3rd IAFS on 27-29 October 2015 in Delhi.

Annual CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India-Africa Project Partnership: It has seen high level of participation from Ghana. Speaker of Ghanaian Parliament, accompanied by Minister of Food &Agriculture, participated in the 12th Conclave in March 2017. Minister of Business Development led a delegation to the 13th  Conclave from 25-27 March 2018. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice President of Ghana led a delegation as Guest of Honour at the 14th Conclave from 17-19 March 2019. The Minister for Railways Hon. Joe Ghartey and Deputy Minister for Trade & Industry addressed the virtual edition of 15th Conclave from 22-24 September 2020. The 16th edition was also held virtually on 13-15 July 2021 and was addressed by Hon. Alan Kyerematan, Trade & Industry Minister, Dy Foreign Minister, Dy Minister of Energy and Dy Minister of Railways. The 17th Conclave was held in New Delhi from 19-20 July 2022. Hon. Mrs. Mavis Hawa Koomson, Minister for Fisheries & Aquaculture led the Ghanaian delegation.

Air Services Agreement: The Agreement was signed on 25 January 1978. An MOU on this was signed on 7 December 2016. Accordingly IndiGo has been designated as scheduled Indian carrier to operate.

Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP): A Cultural Agreement was signed on 12 October 1981 during President Limann’s visit to India. Cultural & Scientific Exchange Programme was signed on 5 August 2002 during President Kufuor’s visit to India. A CEP for 2018-22 was signed on 18 July 2018 during Foreign Minister Botchwey’s visit to India.

MoU on cooperation between BIS & GSA: It was signed on 29 January 2013 but was expired. A new MoU was signed on 18 July 2018 during FM Botchwey’s visit to India.

MoU on Tomato Pilot Research Project between NRDC & CSIR: It was signed on 18 February 2013 with funding from MEA.

Visa Waiver Agreement for Diplomatic and Official Passports: It was signed on 13 June 2016 during President’s visit to Ghana. It came into force from 1 June 2021.

MoU on Cooperation between FSI & MOFA: It was signed on 13 June 2016 during President’s visit to Ghana.

MoU between Government of Ghana and TCIL (for MEA): It is for participation in e-VBAB Network Project and was signed in 2019.

MoU between IOC and Ghana National Petroleum Authority: An MoU for providing assistance and technical expertise in the implementation of Ghana's National LPG Promotion Policy was signed during visit of Deputy Minister of Energy of Ghana who led a delegation for study tour to IOC on 21-25 January 2020.

MoU for Cooperation between the Global Center for Nuclear Energy Partnership, India and the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC): It was signed in Accra on 2 July 2021 during the 2nd FOC.

Inter-Governmental Agreement on Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy: It was signed in Vienna 22 September 2021 during the Annual IAEA Session.

B. DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP:

India has been supporting Ghana’s development by providing assistance in developmental projects through provision of Lines of Credit (LoC) and grants. (In the past Ghana was one of the nine West African countries under the India’s TEAM 9 initiative launched in 2004.) Till date, India has extended about US$ 450 million of concessional credit and grants to Ghana for various developmental projects. Among the important projects are the Rural Electrification Project, India-Ghana Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence for ICT (2003); Jubilee House Presidential Complex (2008); Komenda Sugar Plant (2016) and Elmina Fish Processing plant (2016). LoC agreements of US$ 150 million for Agriculture Mechanization and US$ 30 million to upgrade Potable Water Supply System in Yendi were signed in April 2019 and are currently under implementation. Foreign Service Training Institute established through a LoC funding of US$ 5 million has been handed over to the client (MoFARI), an additional LoC of US$ 2.06 million for expansion of the project has also been approved.

Grant assistance of US$ 1 million was provided to upgrade the India-Ghana Kofi Annan ICT Centre in 2016 and another grant of US$ 1 million was provided to rehabilitate the Jubilee House Presidential Complex in 2017.

In addition to concessional credit through LoCs, India extended Buyers’ Credit of US$ 398.33 million for the Tema-Akosombo railway line in November 2016 and added later US$ 48.84 million for extension up till Mpakadan. Other project under Buyer’s Credit is Construction of Tamale-Walewale Road amounting US$ 387.438 mn to JMC Project (India) Ltd., of which the work on Phase-I worth US$ 158.62 on the sector Savelugu-Walewale has already started.

Capacity building is a strong pillar of bilateral cooperation and Ghana has been benefiting from India’s assistance in human resource development through optimum utilization of ITEC and ICCR scholarships and specialized training programmes conducted under IAFS decisions. During the last year (2021-22), despite covid pandemic, Ghana utilised 39 Defence ITEC slots and 34 ICCR scholarships. Earlier during 2020-2021 Ghana utilised 23 Defence ITEC slots and 30 ICCR scholarships.

Ghana has also been beneficiary of Pan African E-Network, e-VBAB [Tele-Education (e-Vidya Bharati) & Tele-Medicine (e-Arogya Bharati)] Project. A MoU was signed between Ghana and TCIL on 26 August 2019 for participation by Ghana in the e-VBAB Project to provide good quality, affordable and effective tele-education and tele-medicine services through specially developed web-based platforms. Ghana was the pilot country to roll out the project, which is under implementation since 2020. More than 600 Ghanaian students enrolled for various under graduate/post graduate courses for the academic session in 2021 in prestigious Indian universities. For academic session starting in 2022, around 900 Ghanaian students have enrolled. On 13 December 2021, Hon’ble Simon Mensah, Regional Minister of Ashanti Region and High Commissioner inaugurated the eVBAB (e-learning) center at KNUST, Kumasi.

Humanitarian assistance during Covid-19 pandemic: Indian assistance of 50,000 vaccines as gift grant was handed to Ghana on 5 March 2021. Earlier Ghana received 600,000 made in India Covishield vaccines on 24 February 2021 as part of Covax initiative. Subsequently, on 11 May 2022 also 1 million Made in India Covishield vaccines were received by Ghana under Covax.

C. COMMERCIAL:

India is among the top trading partners of Ghana and is the largest destination for Ghanaian exports. Ghana has a positive trade balance with India, mainly due to huge imports of gold by India which accounts for nearly 80% of total imports from Ghana. Ghana’s main exports to India are Gold, cocoa, cashewnuts and timber products. India’s major exports to Ghana include pharmaceuticals, agricultural machinery, transport vehicles, electrical equipment, plastics, iron & steel, ethyl alcohol, beverages & spirits, cereals, made-up textiles etc. As part of target to increase India’s global exports to US$ 400bn in 2021-22 target in respect of Ghana was US$ 1.1 bn which was achieved. The trade figures for the last few years are:

(in US$ million)

(Source: Department of Commerce, Government of India)

The exchange of business delegations in recent years has led to an increase in investments by Indian companies in Ghana. A number of Indian companies including Tata, Ashok Leyland, Mahindra & Mahindra, Escorts, Larson & Toubro, NIIT, Shapoorji Pallonji, as well as several pharmaceutical companies have established their presence in Ghana. According to the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Indian companies have invested in 870 projects with total investment of US$ 2.22 billion between 1994 and 2021. From January to December 2021, India’s FDI was US$ 93.84 million in 25 projects, i.e. 7.21% of Ghana’s total FDI of US$ 1.3 billion in 271 projects. Indian investments cover varied sectors including construction, manufacturing, trading, pharmaceuticals, agro-processing, services and tourism etc.

The High Commission of India launched the India-Business Forum (IBF) in Ghana on 23 November 2020 at Accra to foster bilateral trade and investment and the Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry of Ghana, Hon. Robert Ahomka-Lindsay inaugurated the Forum. “Ghana-India Business Summit” on the theme “Strengthening India-Ghana Business Relations Post-COVID” was held on 6 April 2022 in collaboration with Association of Ghana Industries (AGI).

D. SOCIO-CULTURAL:

There is greater awareness of India in Ghana through Indian soap operas telecast by local television channels. First ‘Festival of India’ in Ghana – ‘Maitri’ was organized from 25 January to 13 March 2017, in collaboration with Indian Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts of Ghana. The International Day of Yoga has been celebrated in Ghana annually since 2015. Important occasions such as Unity Day, Constitution Day, World Hindi Day, Pravasi Bharatiya Day, ITEC Day, ICCR Day, Swachchta Abhiyan campaign, etc. are celebrated regularly with the participation of the locals and Indian community. Several events as part of India@75 celebrations are being organised regularly. A 14-member cultural troupe from Ghana participated at the Annual Surajkund International Crafts Mela in March-April 2022. A week-long AKAM Celebration was organised in Accra and Kumasi from 12-17 August 2022 with a cultural troupe from ICCR. Yoga classes are being conducted at HCI Accra on all working days. A 7-member young MPs delegation visited India for the "Gen-Next Democracy Network Programme” from 20-29 May, 2022. Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong, Vice Chancellor, Cape Coast University visited India under the Academic Visitors Programme of ICCR from 23 September - 2^nd October 2022, held meetings and discussions with Indian universities and signed MoUs.

There is a sizeable Indian community in Ghana numbering around 10,000. Some of them have been in Ghana for over 70 years. Some families are now fourth generation in Ghana and most have acquired Ghanaian citizenship. Several expatriates are also working for MNCs and prominent local Ghanaian businesses as skilled workers. The Indian community is served by a Hindu Temple, a Gurudwara, and a Hindu Monastery, (the latter founded by a Ghanaian convert to Hinduism). ISKCON Temple (mostly run by Ghanaians) and Art of Living are also active. The Indian Association of Ghana is the oldest association, which also has a community centre that organizes Indian festivals and cultural programmes. Indian Associations make generous contributions to local community development projects and donations to charitable causes. Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated regularly in January. Indian Community Forum (ICF) Ghana, a platform for coordinating community activities, was launched during MOS(VM)’s visit to Accra in January 2021. More than 1500 Indians stranded in the region due to Covid-19 pandemic were repatriated by chartered flights from Accra to India during May-August 2020.

November 2022