PM Modi Conferred Ghana’s Highest Honour, Signs Landmark Agreements

In a significant diplomatic moment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred the Order of the Star of Ghana, the nation’s highest civilian award, during his state visit to the West African country. The honour was presented by Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, recognizing PM Modi’s global leadership and deep commitment to India-Africa relations.

Accepting the award on behalf of 1.4 billion Indians, PM Modi dedicated it to the youth of India, its cultural heritage, and the long-standing friendship between India and Ghana. He expressed hope that this visit would serve as a milestone in strengthening bilateral ties and enhancing cooperation in key areas such as trade, education, and healthcare.

This marks the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ghana in over 30 years, signifying New Delhi’s increasing engagement with Africa and the Global South.

India and Ghana signed four Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) during this visit:

• A Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP) to promote art, literature, and tourism.

• Cooperation between the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) on standardisation and certification.

• An agreement between Ghana’s Institute of Traditional and Alternative Medicine and India’s Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda for knowledge exchange.

• Establishment of a Joint Commission Meeting to ensure regular diplomatic engagement.

PM Modi also announced the establishment of a Skill Development Centre in Ghana, aiming to train youth in vocational education and boost employability. India will also double ITEC and ICCR scholarships for Ghanaian students.

Furthermore, PM Modi offered India’s Jan Aushadhi scheme to ensure affordable healthcare access in Ghana and proposed the adoption of Bharat UPI, India’s digital payment system, to improve financial connectivity.

The leaders also discussed enhanced cooperation in pharmaceuticals and vaccine production, with President Mahama expressing interest in turning Ghana into a vaccine hub. India is expected to support this goal by encouraging Indian entrepreneurs to invest in Ghana’s pharma sector.

This historic visit is expected to bring new momentum to India-Ghana relations, strengthening cultural, economic, and technological partnerships for years to come.