Indo-Ghana ties reach new threshold

Indo-Ghana ties have reached new levels with the two-day state visit of Mr  Pranab Mukherjee, the President of India, to Ghana from yesterday to tomorrow, Tuesday, June 14, 2016.

India and Ghana, over the years, have enjoyed rich socio-economic and political relations and strong historical links that predate independence and the two countries continue to strive for enhanced South-South cooperation and trade between and among the bloc.

It is in line with this that the Daily Graphic welcomes President Mukherjee to our hospitable country.

It is also our wish that while in Ghana, President Mukherjee will not only be involved in official activities but also make time to experience the true Ghanaian “Akwaaba” (welcome). This is because Ghana and India have many things in common, including the kind of food we eat.

Ghana’s relationship with India includes centuries-old ties of commerce and culture, common struggle against colonialism, and the need for equality and justice in global endeavours.

Ghana, undoubtedly, is also grateful to India for the tremendous assistance it has received in a broad range of areas,  including the funding of the revival of the Komenda Sugar Factory, funds for the reconstruction of the Flagstaff House, the seat of government; the construction of the Kofi Annan Centre of ICT Excellence,  trade and the provision of educational opportunities through Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation ( ITEC) among many other forms of assistance.

Despite these good gestures from India to Ghana, there is still a lot more that the two countries  can learn from each other.

The Daily Graphic in a similar editorial, when President John Dramani Mahama held bilateral discussions with the Indian Prime Minister, Mr Shri Narendra Modi, in New Delhi ahead of the opening of the India-Africa Forum Summit, argued for the two countries to work strategically to end poverty.

During their meeting in New Delhi, the two leaders looked at Ghana’s transport sector, principally the dualisation of the Accra-Kumasi road and the  revamping of the rail sector.

It is the hope of the Daily Graphic that the visit of His Excellency Mr Mukherjee will actually affirm this and the two leaders will find time to concretise plans for the implementation of these important projects that will contribute to the socio-economic development of the country.

The visit of the Indian President to Ghana is thus most timely and in our estimation could not have come at a better time.

It is our hope that the enhanced  friendship that has been struck with this particular visit will also help advance the common interests of the two countries to boost partnership on the grounds of empowerment, capacity building and human resource development.

The Daily Graphic wishes to emphasise that this visit is a “family reunion” which must be used to set the tone for higher development anchored on South-South Cooperation as well as lead the path of global progress.

The Daily Graphic welcomes the Indian President warmly to Ghana.Typically of Ghanaian tradition we say Akwaaba!