India, Ghana Exchange Two Agreements on Science and Agricultural Research

India, Ghana discuss multilateral cooperation during EAM Jaishankar’s visit

India and Ghana exchanged two agreements covering scientific research, capacity building, agricultural research and education as External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Ghanaian officials during his visit to the West African country.

The agreements were exchanged in the presence of Mr. Jaishankar and his Ghanaian counterpart, Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa. The first was a Memorandum of Understanding between the Zoological Survey of India and the University of Ghana for cooperation in academics, scientific research and capacity building.

The second MoU was exchanged between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, and CSIR-Crops Research Institute, Ghana, for cooperation in Agricultural Research and Education.

Discussions on trade, defence and technology

Mr. Jaishankar and Mr. Ablakwa also discussed advancing the comprehensive partnership between India and Ghana across several sectors. These included trade, investments, development, pharmaceuticals, capacity building, defence, technology and people-to-people ties.

The ministers discussed multilateral cooperation and India’s deepening engagement with the African Union and ECOWAS, or the Economic Community of West African States. Mr. Jaishankar said after the meeting that the two sides had also spoken about advancing their multilateral cooperation and deepening India’s engagement with the two regional organisations.

“As Global South partners, both India and Ghana share common development aspirations and historic solidarity,” Mr. Jaishankar posted on X after the meeting on Tuesday (October 6, 2026).

Ghana is a founding member of ECOWAS, a 15-member regional bloc dedicated to economic, social and political integration across West Africa. Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama will assume the presidency of the African Union in 2027.

Mr. Ablakwa said that Ghana and India were “now high-grade strategic partners”, adding that bilateral relations had been elevated to a Comprehensive Partnership last year during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit.

Jaishankar meets President Mahama

Mr. Jaishankar also met President John Dramani Mahama and discussed the strong momentum in India-Ghana ties. The External Affairs Minister arrived in Ghana on Tuesday (October 6, 2026), beginning the first leg of his three-nation tour to African countries to explore ways to strengthen bilateral ties.

“An honour to call on President John Dramani Mahama @JDMahama of Ghana this afternoon,” Mr. Jaishankar posted on X. He said he had conveyed warm greetings from President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister @narendramodi.

Mr. Jaishankar said the meeting covered the strong momentum in the India-Ghana partnership following “the landmark visit of PM Modi last year”. He also said he appreciated President Mahama’s vision for Ghana’s development and his positive outlook on deepening the Comprehensive Partnership across diverse domains.

Prime Minister Modi visited Ghana in July 2025. It was his first-ever bilateral visit to Ghana and the first prime ministerial visit from India to Ghana in three decades.

Sustainable development initiatives

During the visit, Mr. Jaishankar joined his Ghanaian counterpart and Ghana’s education minister Haruna Iddrisu in planting a Plumeria sapling. The planting was held as a tribute to “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” and Ghana’s “Tree for Life” initiative.

Mr. Jaishankar described the planting as “A symbol of our commitment to sustainable development”.

From Ghana, Mr. Jaishankar will travel to Côte d'Ivoire and Ethiopia. During the tour, he will hold bilateral talks with his counterparts and meet the leadership of all three nations to review close bilateral ties of friendship and cooperation. He will also exchange perspectives on regional and global matters of mutual interest.

Source: The Hindu