Prime minister Narendra Modi last week completed a visit to five countries of Global South: Ghana, Trinidad & Tobago, Argentina, Brazil and Namibia. The objective was to reignite old existing partnerships and to project India’s leadership and influence in the Global South community. 

The visit to the African countries of Ghana and Namibia marked a pivotal moment in India’s quest to strengthen ties with Africa and to make a bold statement of India’s commitment to a multipolar, inclusive world order. Modi’s visit to Ghana, first by an Indian PM in over three decades, was momentous. 

This article delves into colonial history and bilateral relationship between India and these two African countries, the significance of the awards bestowed on Modi, and the strategic relationships that seek to shape India’s future ties with the continent. 

Colonial History, Independence Struggles, and Influence of Gandhi and Modi
The colonial histories of Ghana and Namibia, marked by British and German-South African rule respectively, shaped their independence struggles, drawing inspiration from India’s non-violent resistance led by Mahatma Gandhi. Ghana, under Kwame Nkrumah, achieved independence in 1957, with Nkrumah explicitly adopting Gandhi’s Satyagraha principles, as seen in his non-violent campaigns against British rule. Namibia’s SWAPO-led struggle, culminating in independence in 1990, also resonated with Gandhi’s anti-colonial ethos, though it incorporated armed resistance against apartheid. Modi’s visit to Ghana and Namibiahas reinforced these historical ties. 

Both nations view India favourably due to its Global South advocacy, as evidenced by the African Union’s G20 inclusion during India’s 2023 presidency and $450 million in aid to Ghana. Modi’s policies, emphasizing sustainable development and critical minerals, align with their economic goals, fostering strong goodwill, as seen in social media sentiments and official statements praising India’s non-exploitative partnership model compared to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

India-Ghana Relations 
The India-Ghana relationship, spanning over seven decades, is rooted in shared anti-colonial struggles and democratic values. India supported Ghana’s independence at the UN, and the camaraderie between Jawaharlal Nehru and Kwame Nkrumah fostered the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and South-South cooperation. Today, India is Ghana’s largest destination for gold exports, with bilateral trade reaching $3 billion in 2024. Indian investments, totalling $2 billion, span pharmaceuticals, agriculture and infrastructure, including the Tema-Mpakadan railway line funded by a $450 million Indian credit line. Programmes like the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) and the Pan-African e-Network have bolstered Ghana’s education and healthcare sectors, with 50,000 scholarships provided to African students, including Ghanaians, through India’s development partnerships.

Modi’s visit to Accra on July 2-3 elevated India-Ghana ties to a Comprehensive Partnership, aiming to double trade within five years. Four Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed, covering cultural exchange, standards collaboration, a traditional medicine collaboration between Ghana’s Institute of Traditional & Alternative Medicine and India’s Institute of Teaching & Research in Ayurveda, and the establishment of a Joint Commission. Furthermore, in the area of FinTech, Bharat UPI will share the digital payment experience with Ghana. In his address to Ghana’s Parliament, Modi described India as a “co-traveller” in Ghana’s development journey, reinforcing shared democratic ideals.

During the visit, President Mahama conferred on Modi the award of ‘The Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana’. The award, symbolized by a seven-pointed star medal with red, yellow and green ribbons reflecting Ghana’s flag, has previously been bestowed on luminaries like Queen Elizabeth II, Nelson Mandela, and Kofi Annan. It was awarded to Modi for his “distinguished statesmanship and influential global leadership”, recognizing his role in elevating India’s global stature and fostering India-Ghana friendship. 

In his acceptance speech, Modi dedicated the award to “the 1.4 billion Indians”, the “aspirations and bright future of the youth of both nations, their rich cultural traditions, and historical ties.” He emphasized that the honour imposes a “responsibility to further strengthen India-Ghana friendship,” underscoring India’s commitment as a trusted development partner.

This accolade places him among global leaders recognized for diplomacy and statesmanship. It also reflects India’s growing influence in Global South. Modi’s X post on July 2 thanked the people and government of Ghana, dedicating the honour to the “shared democratic values and traditions” that nurture the partnership. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) noted that the award is a “testament to the deep and long-standing India-Ghana ties,” reinforcing India’s role in Ghana’s economic restructuring and development.

India-Namibia Ties
India’s leadership in Global South is a cornerstone of its foreign policy, and the Ghana-Namibia visit amplifies this vision. India’s G20 presidency in 2023, which secured permanent membership for the African Union, has elevated African voices on global platforms, benefiting nations like Ghana and Namibia. Both countries, through their roles in ECOWAS and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), respectively, align with India’s advocacy for a multipolar world order. 

India-Namibia relations, equally historic, trace back to India’s support for Namibia’s SWAPO-led independence movement against South African apartheid. During Modi’s visit to Windhoek, he met with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and addressed the Namibian Parliament, emphasizing India-Namibia ties as a “model for the Global South.” The visit culminated in India and Namibia signing four MoUs which included cooperation in the field of health and medicine, the setting up of the Entrepreneurship Development Centre in Namibia, a letter of acceptance for Namibia joining the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), a letter of acceptance for Namibia joining the Global Biofuel Alliance. Other discussions centred on strengthening cooperation in areas of defence, security, digital technology, agriculture, healthcare, education and critical minerals among others.

During the visit, Modi was conferred with Namibia's highest civilian award, ‘Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis’, by the Namibian president. 

Future Prospects in Minerals and Rare Earth Elements
Ghana and Namibia are endowed with bountiful deposits of minerals and rare earth elements (REEs). Ghana is a major producer of gold in the world and the largest in Africa. It has large reserves of bauxite and manganese with latest discoveries of lithium, iron ore and limestone. Namibia is the third largest producer of uranium in the world and has large deposits of REE such as dysprosium, terbium, yttrium, neodymium, and praseodymium. Bilateral cooperations with these two countries, especially in the area of mining can bolster India’s technological drive in the areas of green technologies (such as electric vehicles, wind turbines, and solar panels) and defence applications. 

In discussions with Ghana, India offered technical assistance for sustainable mining practices, aligning with Ghana’s campaigns against ‘galamsey’ (illegal gold mining), while Namibia, being a leading uranium and lithium supplier, is crucial for India’s nuclear energy and 500GW renewable energy target by 2030. Additionally, the SAGAR initiative presents maritime security for mineral exports through ports of Tema in Ghana and Walvis Bay in Namibia, thereby ensuring safe sea lines of communication (SLOCs).

Blueprint for the Global South
Modi’s visit to Ghana and Namibia marks a transformative chapter in India-Africa relations. Ghana’s pioneering independence history and mineral resource, Namibia’s strategic endowment with REE, coupled with India’s historical support and shared democratic values form the bedrock of the India-Africa partnership. The honours of the highest civilian awards bestowed Modi from the two countries symbolize India’s rising global stature. By leveraging critical minerals and maritime cooperation, India can forge a sustainable and equitable future with Ghana and Namibia. This visit, underlining Global South’s ethos of mutual respect, positions India as a ‘Vishwa Guru,’ driving a multipolar world order where Africa and India co-create a resilient, inclusive tomorrow.

Dr Gayettri Dixit is Assistant Professor, Centre for African Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University. Kweku Dadzie is Doctoral Scholar, Centre for African Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University.