By Kingsley Webora TANKEH

Members of the Indian community and mission in Ghana, along with officials and supporters of India, gathered at India House in Accra to mark India’s 79th Independence Day. Reflecting the country’s annual theme for this year’s celebrations — ‘Naya Bharat’ — the event featured the hoisting of the flag, artistic presentations, and provided an opportunity for the Indian expatriates to come together and renew their sense of patriotism.

At the event, Indian High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr. Manish Gupta, highlighted the significance of the occasion—emphasizing that India’s “remarkable story of economic development” following independence deserves recognition. “This year, our nation has emerged as the fourth-largest economy globally. We hold the title of the fastest-growing large economy,” he mentioned.

He honored India’s original leaders and independence heroes, particularly Mahatma Gandhi, whose principle of nonviolence established the basis for the nation’s growth, irrespective of global political changes.

Following the raising of the tri-color Indian flag to the top, Mr. Gupta referred to it as “a representation of our identity, our liberty, our solidarity, and it is a source of our honor.” He offered heartfelt Independence Day greetings to everyone, celebrating the 79th anniversary through a mix of patriotic spirit and contemplation on the common historical ties with Ghana.

Nevertheless, the festivities took place alongside a state funeral service honoring six of the eight brave patriots who lost their lives in the helicopter accident on August 6. The attendees remained silent for a moment in memory of those who had passed away.

This national endeavor highlighted India’s remarkable path since August 15, 1947, when it achieved freedom from British rule, which motivated uprisings for autonomy throughout Africa and Asia. This influence extended to Ghana, which became the initial sub-Saharan African nation to attain independence in 1957—precisely a decade after.

Embracing the non-violent ideology of Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah—leader of Ghana’s struggle for independence—took immediate steps to collaborate with India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, along with numerous other leaders, establishing the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in 1961. The purpose of NAM was to support decolonization, resist racial discrimination, and push for nuclear disarmament.

India and Ghana have maintained a strong tradition of friendly relations and collaboration since times prior to India’s independence. In 1953, India set up a consulate in Accra, and later established formal diplomatic ties in 1957 shortly after gaining independence.

This solidified the bond between the two non-aligned nations. Nevertheless, over time, the two countries have reinforced the groundwork established by their visionary leaders, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and Jawaharlal Nehru, enhancing their bilateral ties through political solidarity, commerce, investments, and collaboration within the Global South.

After Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a significant trip to Ghana at the beginning of July this year—the first such visit in 30 years—relations between the two countries have moved towards an all-encompassing collaboration. “This highlights the strong historical ties we maintain with Ghana,” said Mr. Gupta, noting that it “signals great potential for our commercial, financial, and developmental cooperation.”

Ghana was the initial designation within all of West Africa, symbolizing strong diplomatic relations between the two nations from the Global South.

Nevertheless, this enhancement created opportunities for credit lines, grants, and technical collaboration. Over the last twenty years, Ghana’s credit lines surpassed $450 million. As per the Foreign Minister, trade levels reached $3 billion by July 2025, largely driven by an increase in gold exports to the South Asian giant. India ranks among the top buyers of Ghanaian gold. This indicates revived trading momentum between India and Ghana following a post-pandemic high of $4.5 billion.

Mr. Gupta thanked the Indo-Ghanaian community for their role in strengthening the trading ties between the two nations. “We take pride in you. We are proud of your accomplishments,” stated Mr. Gupta. “The Prime Minister’s visit also acknowledged the efforts of the Indo-Ghanaian community here… I commend every single one of you.”

The head of India’s mission in Ghana addressed everyone present, stating, “Let’s all come together and continue moving ahead with this remarkable story of India, striving to achieve our vision of making India a developed nation within 100 years of gaining independence.”

Over time, India has backed Ghana throughout its path of growth. Ongoing initiatives funded by Indian loans and donations keep influencing Ghana’s progress. Examples consist of the building of Jubilee House—the official residence of Ghana’s president; the Kofi Annan Center for Innovation and Information Technology; the Komenda Sugar Mill; and the Tema-Mpakadan Standard Gauge railway line, among others.

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