EAM Jaishankar Calls Ghana, India "Champions of Global South"

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has described India and Ghana as “historic partners” and “champions of the Global South”, calling for deeper cooperation between the two countries as they seek to expand their comprehensive partnership across multiple sectors.

Jaishankar made the remarks in Accra after meeting Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, with the two sides discussing ways to take bilateral ties forward.

“My main purpose of coming here, of course, was to follow up on Prime Minister Modi's historic visit last year,” Jaishankar said.

He said India's relationship with Ghana was rooted in a shared history of supporting the independence, self-reliance and dignity of countries that had experienced colonial rule.

“We have, I think, in the world, in difficult circumstances, stood up for the independence and the self-reliance and the dignity of countries who were earlier colonised. And I think that foundation, that legacy, stands us in good stead,” he said.

BUILDING ON A COMPREHENSIVE PARTNERSHIP

Jaishankar said the two countries now needed to build on their established comprehensive partnership by identifying new areas of cooperation while strengthening existing ties.

“And what we are trying to do is, now that we have established a comprehensive partnership, we need to live up to that. We need to find new areas of cooperation. We need to deepen our longstanding partnership,” he said.

He pointed to similarities between development initiatives in India and Ghana as an opportunity for the two countries to share experiences and expertise.

Jaishankar cited Ghana's Accra Reset health programme alongside India's Ayushman Bharat, Ghana's Feed Ghana initiative alongside India's programmes focused on farmers and millets, and Ghana's target of creating one million coders alongside India's Digital India and Startup India initiatives.

“Given these similarities, given these parallels, I think it's very natural for us as countries of the Global South to pool our experience, to see what we can do to support each other, and to share with each other,” he said.

AGRICULTURE, HEALTH & TECHNOLOGY ON THE AGENDA

During Jaishankar's visit, India and Ghana signed two agreements covering agricultural research and training and biodiversity.

The two sides are also looking at expanding cooperation in pharmaceuticals and healthcare, mining, defence, railways and the digital sector.

Jaishankar highlighted the role of Indian companies and the Indian community in Ghana, describing the community as a “living bridge” between the two countries.

He said investment commitments had been made in recent months in areas including pharmaceuticals and healthcare, poultry and renewable energy.

“We really do believe today that our partnership would help in strengthening resilience, in promoting inclusion, in ensuring that growth really delivers for our people in what is otherwise a very turbulent and complicated world,” he said.

INDIA, GHANA SEEK CLOSER COORDINATION

Jaishankar also underlined the importance India attaches to Ghana's role in regional and international organisations, particularly the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

He noted that Ghana is set to assume the chairship of the African Union next year.

The External Affairs Minister also welcomed Ghana's commitment to reparatory justice and the restitution of cultural properties, as well as its advocacy for the Sustainable Development Goals and reform of the United Nations.

India and Ghana, he said, had similar views on the need to reform the UN, including the UN Security Council.

“Again, we feel that as Global South partners, we should be working together strongly for the reform of the United Nations, including the Security Council. This is an issue where I think our outlook is very similar,” Jaishankar said.

Ghana's participation in India-led initiatives, including the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, was also highlighted during the discussions.

“WORLD MOVING TOWARDS MULTIPOLARITY”

Jaishankar said the two countries' shared experience placed them in a position to advocate for greater independence and strategic autonomy in a changing international order.

“I think the world is moving towards multipolarity, towards its natural diversity,” he said, adding that countries such as India and Ghana should stand up as “voices of independence” and advocates of strategic autonomy.

He said greater cooperation between the two countries would be beneficial not only for India and Ghana but also for their respective regions and the wider world.

Jaishankar is on a three-nation African tour that also includes Côte d'Ivoire and Ethiopia.

After concluding his visit to Ghana, he arrived in Côte d'Ivoire, where he met Vice Prime Minister and Defence Minister Téné Birahima Ouattara and discussed the growing defence partnership between the two countries.

He also held talks with Côte d'Ivoire Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Nialé Kaba in Abidjan, focusing on trade, investment, infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare and people-to-people ties.

With inputs from ANI