The Prime Minister of India, Mr Shri Narendra Modi, will be conferred with Ghana’s highest national honour, the Companion of the Order of the Star of Ghana, during his two-day state visit, which begins on Wednesday, July 2, 2025.
Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced this at a press briefing in Accra on Monday.
He described the honour as a reflection of the deep and enduring relationship between Ghana and India.
The award will be formally presented at a state banquet hosted by President John Dramani Mahama at Jubilee House in Accra on the evening of the first day of the visit.
Mr Ablakwa said the conferment of the award underscored Ghana’s recognition of Prime Minister Modi’s leadership and the strategic role India continued to play in Ghana’s development trajectory.
“This is the highest honour our country bestows on distinguished foreign dignitaries. Only a few world leaders have received it, and we are proud to include Prime Minister Modi in this illustrious group,” he said.
The Companion of the Order of the Star of Ghana is reserved for foreign heads of state who have made exceptional contributions to Ghana’s progress and have demonstrated outstanding commitment to deepening diplomatic and economic relations.
Past recipients include President Jacques Chirac of France, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, King Mohammed VI of Morocco, and President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire.
Mr Ablakwa noted that Prime Minister Modi’s honour was in recognition of India’s unwavering friendship and support for Ghana over the decades.
He cited India’s contributions to Ghana’s development through both grants and credit lines, which had supported key projects such as the Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT, the Komenda Sugar Factory, the Elmina Fish Processing Plant, and the Tema-Mpakadan Railway Line.
India has also supported the establishment of Ghana’s Foreign Service Institute and invested in rural electrification, agriculture, and education infrastructure.
In total, India has extended more than US$450 million in development financing to Ghana in recent years, in addition to facilitating technology transfers and capacity building.
Mr Ablakwa added that the award was also symbolic of the shared democratic values between the two nations.
“India is the world’s largest democracy, and Ghana is a model of democratic governance in Africa. Our nations are bound by history, people-to-people ties, and a common vision for inclusive development,” he said.
As part of the visit, Prime Minister Modi will hold bilateral talks with President Mahama and other senior government officials.
The two countries are expected to sign several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) covering agriculture, health, defence cooperation, standards and regulations, and the establishment of a Joint Commission.
The Indian leader will also engage with the Indian community in Ghana, visit the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, and deliver a special address to Ghana’s Parliament on Thursday, July 3 – another rare honour accorded to a visiting Head of State.
Mr Ablakwa said the visit and the conferment of the national honour marked a new chapter in Ghana-India relations, built on a strong foundation of solidarity dating back to the days of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
“The honour we are bestowing on Prime Minister Modi is not only for his personal leadership but for the enduring friendship between our two nations,” he added.
