President John Mahama says the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Ghana is a powerful symbol of mutual respect and cooperation between the two nations and reflects a shared dedication to global peace, prosperity, and South-South solidarity.

Addressing a joint press conference on Wednesday, July 2, President Mahama said the presence of the Indian leader marks a historic milestone in Ghana-India relations, while reaffirming both countries' shared aspirations for development and multilateral reform.

“Your visit, Honourable Prime Minister, is both deeply symbolic and real, reflecting the shared values of democracy, development, and international cooperation that unite our people and reaffirm our collective commitment to global peace, prosperity, and South-South cooperation,” President Mahama stated.

He traced the long-standing ties between Ghana and India, recalling that Indian merchants arrived on Ghanaian shores as early as 1890.

“Many Indian families followed suit and made Ghana their home, and many of them today are proud citizens of Ghana,” he added.

President Mahama highlighted the contributions of the Indian community to Ghana’s economy, describing them as “astute investors” involved in commerce, education, health, and agribusiness.

He also praised India’s long-standing support to Ghana’s development agenda, citing key projects such as the Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT, the Elmina Fish Processing Plant, the Komenda Sugar Factory, and the Tema-Mpakadan railway line.

According to the President, discussions with Prime Minister Modi earlier in the day focused on scaling up cooperation in strategic sectors including agriculture, renewable energy, digital innovation, youth empowerment, and health.

He said India’s emergence as a global economic force creates new opportunities for enhanced bilateral trade and integration into global value chains, particularly through the African Continental Free Trade Area, whose Secretariat is hosted in Accra.

President Mahama ended his remarks with a toast to the enduring Ghana-India partnership, expressing optimism that Prime Minister Modi’s visit would signal the start of deeper cooperation anchored in mutual respect, shared prosperity, and a united global outlook.