With PM Modi's Ghana visit, India challenges China's dominance in Africa

Indian Express

17 hours ago

Written by Gayettri Dixit and Gaurav Sen
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi stepped off his plane onto Ghanaian soil last week, it marked more than just a diplomatic handshake — it was history brushing off the dust and preparing to rewrite itself. This is the first prime ministerial visit to Ghana in the last three decades; it was not just overdue but also timely and strategic. The visit marked a careful instigation of diplomacy, culture, commerce, and shared values. It was a recalibration of India's Africa policy through the lens of one of West Africa's most influential democracies.
PM Modi invoked the deeper ties between both nations that were born out of long anti-colonial struggles, and their relationship goes back to when Kwame Nkrumah and Jawaharlal Nehru shared a non-aligned vision for the global south. Modi's speech in the country's parliament struck a chord. 'We are both voices of the Global South,' he said, reminding the world that true global leadership today lies not only in military might or market size but in inclusivity, cooperation, and trust.
PM Modi spoke with conviction that today's world needs reform in global governance and needs to come out from the post-World War II mindset and must deal with new realities shattered by pandemics, climate change, and technology disruptions. It was a pitch not just to Ghana but to all of Africa.
India and Ghana elevated their relationship to 'Comprehensive Partnership'. Apart from that, both countries signed four MoUs. One was focused on traditional medicine and Ayurveda, which holds both cultural connection and a soft power move but also has the real health and commercial potential in Africa. Another aimed at deepening cooperation between the Bureau of Indian Standards and its Ghanaian counterpart, this will help in trade and investment due to higher quality and mutual recognition. The third was a cultural exchange programme for 2025-2029. And most crucially, a joint commission was agreed upon, which means that high-level officials from both countries will now meet regularly to track progress and chart future paths—turning intent into institutional memory.
While the visit was important due to cultural connection and diplomacy, the less discussed topic was the economic and strategic relevance of the visit. India and Ghana trade reached to $3 billion, making India one of Ghana's top five trading partners. In addition, Indian companies are investing in over 850 projects in Ghana. But now, both sides have set their eyes on doubling this figure within five years. How? By unlocking new areas—renewable energy, fintech, agriculture, and digital health.
The introduction of India's digital payment system, Unified Payments Interface (UPI), in Ghana is exceptional. Ghana has become one of the first African nations to adopt this Indian architecture real-time payment system. If successful, it could revolutionise Ghana's domestic banking architecture—just as it did in India.
The conversation wasn't limited to economy and culture. The leaders also addressed security, terrorism, and defence cooperation. India pledged to extend training, capacity building, and cyber-security collaboration. Ghana, a stable democracy in an increasingly fragile region, welcomed the support.
In a world where security dialogues are often militaristic, Modi reframed it: 'Security through solidarity,' he said. It was an important phrase—offering reassurance that India's engagement in Africa is partnership-based, not transactional or extractive.
The visit to Ghana must not be seen independently of India's struggle to challenge China's increasing influence in African affairs. This should also be in the context of the changing world order and India's stand for multipolarity; India's vision will not be fulfilled without the support of the global south, and Ghana is still an important actor in the African landscape. As China entrenches itself in African infrastructure and the West occasionally lapses into paternalism, India's model—rooted in mutual development, local capacity, and democratic respect—offers a third way. India is not just in Africa for minerals or markets. It is there to help build institutions, develop skills, share technology, and co-create solutions. This is the message PM Modi carried with him to Accra, and it was received with open arms.
The real test of the visit, of course, lies in what follows. Can the UPI system be rolled out effectively? Will India deliver on its vaccine partnership promises? Can the trade figures be doubled with meaningful diversification? Will the Joint Commission meet regularly and deliver? These are the questions that will shape India-Ghana ties in the years to come. But what this visit has already achieved is vital: it has reinvigorated a forgotten friendship and placed Ghana squarely at the centre of India's Africa policy.
As PM Modi departed Accra, having been awarded Ghana's highest civilian honour—the 'Order of the Star'—it was clear that this was not just a one-off ceremonial trip. It was a foundational moment in India's ambition to be not just a great power but a trusted global partner. In Ghana, India found more than an ally. It found a co-author in its journey toward a more balanced, multipolar world.
Gayettri Dixit is Assistant Professor at Centre for African Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University. Gaurav Sen is Senior Research Fellow at the School of International Studies, JNU