BTA2023 The Indian High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr. Manish Gupta, has reaffirmed Ghana as the top choice for Indian investors, with nearly 900 projects established in the country over the past two decades.
Speaking at a dinner reception to mark India’s 76th Republic Day and the 75th anniversary of the Indian Constitution, Mr. Gupta emphasized that India is one of Ghana’s leading trade partners, with bilateral trade amounting to $3 billion.
Key Sectors for Indian Investment
Indian investments in Ghana span several key sectors, including:
- Agriculture
- Health
- Education
- Railways
- SMEs
- Infrastructure
- Telecom
India-Ghana Relations & Major Projects
Mr. Gupta highlighted the strong historical ties between India and Ghana, rooted in mutual trust and respect since the era of Pandit Nehru and Kwame Nkrumah.
Notable Indian-backed projects in Ghana include:
- Jubilee House
- Foreign Services Institute
- Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT (which has trained over 50,000 people)
- Tema-Mpakadan Railway Line, Ghana’s largest-ever development project financed by the Indian EXIM Bank with $450 million in funding.
Cultural & Economic Ties
The dinner, themed “Swarnim Bharat – Virasataur Vikas” (Golden India – Heritage and Development), featured performances celebrating Indian culture and history.
Mr. Gupta highlighted the importance of people-to-people linkages, noting that the Indian-Ghanaian community of nearly 15,000 people plays a crucial role in strengthening bilateral ties. He also acknowledged Ghanaian players competing in the Indian Football League as a testament to deepening connections.
Government Recognition & Future Partnerships
The event was attended by top Ghanaian government officials, including:
- Mr. Eric Opoku (Minister for Food and Agriculture, Chief Guest)
- Samuel George (Minister-designate for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovation)
- Madam Emelia Arthur (Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development)
Other dignitaries included Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Akua Sena Dansoa, Mr. Albert Kofi Owusu, and Samia Nkrumah.
Mr. Eric Opoku commended India’s contributions to Ghana’s socio-economic development and emphasized that future collaborations would further enhance bilateral ties.
“India is the largest destination for Ghanaian exports, with gold accounting for nearly 80% of total exports to India, contributing to Ghana’s positive trade balance,” he noted.
