Zillar Barta Desk,Accra : External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visited the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial in Accra during his official visit to Ghana and paid tribute to Ghana’s founding President and prominent Pan-Africanist, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
Jaishankar described the memorial and museum as important reminders of Dr. Nkrumah’s vision of self-reliance, dignity and freedom. He also highlighted the continuing importance of deeper South-South cooperation between countries of the Global South.
During his visit, Jaishankar laid a wreath at the memorial, marking a significant moment in his Ghana engagements. The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park is dedicated to preserving the legacy of Ghana’s first President and his contribution to African unity, self-determination and Pan-Africanism. The park houses a museum, library and other facilities documenting Nkrumah’s life and political vision.
The visit came as Jaishankar undertook the Ghana leg of a five-day official tour of Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and Ethiopia from October 6 to 10. The broader visit is aimed at strengthening India’s engagement with African countries and advancing cooperation in areas including trade, economic relations, development partnerships, capacity building and people-to-people ties.
Jaishankar’s Ghana visit also included high-level political engagements. He met Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama and conveyed the greetings of President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During the meeting, the two sides discussed the momentum in India-Ghana relations and ways to further expand their Comprehensive Partnership across different sectors.
The Indian External Affairs Minister also held discussions with Ghana’s Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. The talks covered a wide range of areas, including trade and investment, development cooperation, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, defence, technology and people-to-people relations. India and Ghana also exchanged agreements aimed at expanding cooperation in scientific research, education, agriculture and capacity building.
An important development during Jaishankar’s Ghana visit was Ghana’s formal accession to the India-led International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA). Jaishankar received Ghana’s Instrument of Acceptance from Foreign Minister Ablakwa. The alliance brings together countries, organisations and other stakeholders working to strengthen conservation of major big-cat species and their habitats.
The memorial visit carried particular historical significance because India and Ghana share a long history of engagement around anti-colonialism, sovereignty and cooperation among developing nations. Kwame Nkrumah was one of the major figures associated with Ghana’s independence and the wider Pan-African movement. His political vision placed considerable emphasis on African unity, independence and economic self-reliance.
Jaishankar’s reference to South-South cooperation during the memorial visit also reflects India’s broader diplomatic emphasis on strengthening partnerships among developing and emerging nations. New Delhi has increasingly highlighted capacity building, development cooperation, technology sharing and human-resource development as important components of its engagement with Africa.
Earlier in his Ghana engagements, Jaishankar delivered a keynote address at Ghana’s Foreign Service Institute, where he discussed India’s relationship with Africa and the wider Global South. He stressed the importance of resilient supply chains and cooperation in areas such as food, fuel, fertilisers and finance, while also highlighting India’s experience in digital infrastructure and its willingness to share knowledge and capabilities with African partners.
The visit comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s landmark visit to Ghana in July 2025, the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ghana in three decades. The two countries subsequently placed greater emphasis on strengthening their bilateral relationship across multiple sectors.
Jaishankar’s visit to the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial therefore combined historical remembrance with contemporary diplomacy. By paying tribute to one of Africa’s most influential independence-era leaders while simultaneously holding talks on trade, development, technology and conservation, the visit highlighted both the historical foundations and the modern priorities of India-Ghana relations.
Following his engagements in Ghana, Jaishankar is scheduled to continue his Africa tour with visits to Côte d’Ivoire and Ethiopia. In Addis Ababa, he is also scheduled to chair the Regional Heads of Mission Conference, bringing together Indian diplomatic representatives in the region. The Ministry of External Affairs has described the overall tour as part of India’s continued effort to deepen its partnership with Africa and strengthen solidarity with the Global South.
