President John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday conferred one of the nation’s highest civilian honors on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, underscoring growing bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
Modi received the Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana, awarded during a ceremony at the Jubilee House, the seat of Ghana’s presidency. The honor reflects what Ghanaian officials described as India’s enduring contributions to the West African nation’s development across critical sectors including infrastructure, agriculture, and technology.
“This is not only a personal honor,” Modi said upon accepting the award, “but also a reminder of the responsibility to deepen India’s partnership with Ghana.”
The Indian leader’s visit included bilateral talks and a joint press briefing with President Mahama, in which both leaders outlined a broadened agenda for cooperation. Ghana is seeking to ramp up collaboration with India in trade, agribusiness, clean energy, digital innovation, and youth empowerment—sectors viewed as essential to the country’s long-term economic growth.
“We agreed on the urgency of deepening our collaboration in areas of shared strategic interest,” President Mahama said, listing agriculture, renewable energy, and digital transformation among the top priorities.
India has long played a key role as a development partner to Ghana, offering concessional loans, technical support, and investments in flagship infrastructure projects. Notable Indian-backed initiatives include the Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT, the Tema-Mpakadan railway line, and the Elmina Fish Processing Plant—projects that have contributed to Ghana’s industrial and technological capacity.
Modi’s visit signals a renewed push for deeper economic and strategic engagement, at a time when both nations are positioning themselves for greater roles in South–South cooperation. For Ghana, the outreach to India comes amid efforts to diversify its global partnerships beyond traditional Western allies.
The award and accompanying state visit mark a high point in Ghana–India relations and set the stage for expanded cooperation at both governmental and private sector levels.
Source:TheDotNews