This article covers the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Ghana, the high-level visits exchanged by the two countries, their dialogue mechanisms and the political agreements that underpin them. It is based on the MEA brief of April 2026, the bilateral brief on India-Ghana relations published by India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Establishment of relations

According to the MEA brief of April 2026, India opened its representative office in Accra in 1953, before Ghana's independence. India established full-fledged diplomatic relations with Ghana in 1957, immediately after Ghana attained independence.

The brief describes India-Ghana relations as having "traditionally been warm and friendly", resting on a foundation "anchored in shared values and common vision".

Visits from India

The brief lists three visits to Ghana at the level of Head of State or Head of Government:

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Ghana from 2-3 July 2025.
  • President Pranab Mukherjee visited Ghana from 12-14 June 2016.
  • Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao visited Ghana from 8-9 November 1995.

At the level of the External Affairs Ministry, External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar met President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on the margins of the 77th UNGA high level week in New York in September 2022. Minister of State for External Affairs Mr. V. Muraleedharan attended the Presidential Inauguration of President Akufo-Addo in Ghana on 6-7 January 2021, following his re-election in the December 2020 elections. Mr. M.J. Akbar, MoS for External Affairs, visited Ghana from 14-16 August 2017 to participate in the India@70 celebrations.

President Akufo-Addo addressed the Voice of Global South Summit hosted virtually by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 13 January 2023. The brief records that India hosted the summit under the theme "Together for Everyone's Growth, with Everyone's Trust".

In the parliamentary field, an Indian Parliamentary delegation led by Sh. Anurag Sharma, MP, visited Accra from 30 September to 6 October 2023 in connection with the 66th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC). It comprised Members of Parliament from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha together with Speakers, Deputy Speakers, legislators and officials from 21 State Legislative Assemblies of India.

Presidential visits

  • President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo visited India to participate in the Founding Conference of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in New Delhi on 11 March 2018.
  • President John Dramani Mahama visited India to participate in the 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) from 27-29 October 2015.
  • President Kufuor visited India in August 2002 and in April 2008, the second time for the 1st IAFS.
  • Earlier presidential visits were made by President Rawlings (1993), President Limann (1981) and President Nkrumah (1961).

Foreign Minister and Deputy Foreign Minister visits

Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa visited India on 17-18 March 2025 to participate in the Raisina Dialogue. He held a bilateral meeting with EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar on the margins of the Dialogue, and the brief records that the visit aimed to strengthen collaboration in sectors such as agricultural technology and infrastructure development.

Ms. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, described in the brief as Commonwealth Secretary General elect and former Foreign Minister, visited India on 20-21 March 2025 and met the EAM and other stakeholders. As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, she had earlier:

  • made an official visit to India on 16-18 July 2018;
  • visited India for the UNSC Counter Terrorism Committee Special meeting in Mumbai and New Delhi (27-30 October 2022);
  • participated in the 9th Edition of the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi (21-24 February 2024) and met Dr. S. Jaishankar.

Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Mr. Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong participated in the Raisina Dialogue (25-27 April 2022), after Covid-19 travel restrictions were lifted, and in the virtual session of the 2nd Voice of Global South Summit on 17 November 2023.

Other ministerial and official visits

  • Minister for Information Mr. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah participated in the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi (2-3 March 2023).
  • The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources visited India for the Kimberly Process Plenary Meeting in New Delhi (18-22 November 2019).
  • The Minister for Railway Development visited India for the International Railway Equipment Exhibition in New Delhi (21-23 October 2019).
  • The Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources attended the Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention in New Delhi (29 September to 2 October 2018).
  • The Deputy Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation attended the World Sustainable Development Summit in New Delhi (15-17 February 2018).
  • Justice Patrick Kwamina Baiden of the Superior Court of Judicature of the Republic of Ghana attended the 1st Regional Conference on Access to Legal Aid in New Delhi (27-28 November 2023).

Parliamentary exchanges

Mr. Bernard Ahiafor, First Deputy Speaker, led a delegation to the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers in New Delhi in January 2026. An 8-member Ghanaian Parliamentary delegation visited the Parliament of India Museum in New Delhi from 7-10 May 2023.

A five-member Parliamentary delegation led by the First Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, Mr. Joseph Osei-Owusu, took part in the Mid-Year Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) meeting in Assam from 6-11 April 2022, followed by a Study Tour from 12-20 April 2022. Under the IAFS "Leader of the Future" Programme, Mr. Cassiel Ato Forson, MP, and Mr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, MP, visited India from 23-30 April 2011, and Mr. Kwaku Agyemin-Boateng and Mr. Theophilus Tetteh Chaie attended from 13-20 March 2012.

Joint Commission

An Agreement on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation was signed on 12 October 1981 during President Limann's visit to India. An MoU to establish a Joint Commission (JC) for Economic, Technical and Cultural Cooperation was signed on 9 November 1995 during the Prime Minister's visit to Ghana. A further MoU for the establishment of the JC was signed on 13 June 2016 during the visit of the President of India, and an MoU on Joint Commission Meeting was signed during Prime Minister Modi's visit in July 2025.

Foreign Office Consultations

A Protocol on Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between the MEA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ghana was signed on 5 August 2002. Three rounds have been held:

  • 1st FOC: New Delhi, 28 August 2019, co-chaired by Secretary (ER) and Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Charles Owiredu.
  • 2nd FOC: Accra, 2 July 2021, co-chaired by Mr. Rahul Chhabra, Secretary (ER), and Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong.
  • 3rd FOC: New Delhi, 22 July 2022, co-chaired by Mr. Sevala Naik Mude, Joint Secretary (CWA), and Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong.

Parliamentary Friendship Association

Members of the Ghanaian Parliament have set up an informal Ghana-India Parliamentary Friendship Association (PFA).

Where other agreements are covered

Agreements on trade, standards, development projects, energy, health, culture and air services are set out in the other articles of this guide, under the subject they concern.