India and Ghana are looking to expand bilateral cooperation across pharmaceuticals, healthcare, mining, defence, railways and digital sectors, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said during his visit to Accra on Wednesday. The two countries also signed agreements covering biodiversity, agricultural research and training, as New Delhi and Accra sought to build on their recently strengthened partnership.

Speaking alongside Ghana's Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Jaishankar said his visit was aimed at following up on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Ghana last year. He also met Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama and thanked him for his contribution to bilateral relations. Jaishankar said the two countries now needed to identify new areas of cooperation and deepen their long-standing partnership after establishing a comprehensive partnership.

Jaishankar described India and Ghana as historic partners and champions of the Global South, highlighting their shared emphasis on independence, self-reliance and national dignity. He said the historical foundation of their relationship provided a strong basis for taking bilateral ties to the next level. The discussions in Accra focused primarily on strengthening the relationship across areas of mutual interest.

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The minister also pointed to similarities between development initiatives in the two countries that could provide opportunities for sharing experience. He referred to Ghana's health initiatives alongside India's Ayushman Bharat programme, Feed Ghana and India's agricultural and millet-related programmes, as well as Ghana's goal of developing one million coders and India's Digital India and Startup initiatives.

Beyond the agreements signed during the visit, Jaishankar said the two countries were examining greater cooperation in pharmaceuticals and health, mining, defence, railways and digital sectors. He said the similarities between their development priorities made it natural for India and Ghana to share experiences and work together on initiatives that could support their respective populations.

Jaishankar also highlighted the role of the Indian community and businesses in Ghana, describing the community as a “living bridge” between the two countries. He noted recent Indian investment commitments in pharmaceuticals, medical services, poultry and renewable energy. According to the minister, stronger India-Ghana cooperation could contribute to resilience and inclusive growth while helping both countries address challenges in an increasingly complex global environment.

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