The Minority Leader of Ghana’s Parliament, Hon. Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has hailed the historic official visit of India’s Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, to Ghana as a moment of deep diplomatic significance and a crucial milestone in the relationship between Ghana and India.
He stressed the strategic and symbolic importance of Prime Minister Modi’s visit, the first time in over three decades that a sitting Indian Prime Minister has visited Ghanaian soil.
Prime Minister Modi, he said, is the first Indian leader ever to address the Parliament of Ghana, which he said is a powerful reaffirmation of the enduring friendship between Ghana and India.
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In a statement issued on the visit, Hon. Afenyo-Markin recalled the long-standing bonds of solidarity that have historically linked the two nations, tracing them back to the era of Ghana’s first President, Kwame Nkrumah, and India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. He commended India for its significant and sustained contributions to Ghana’s development across various crucial sectors, including education, technology, healthcare, trade, and human resource development.
“India’s contributions to Ghana’s development have been invaluable. We applaud this partnership and reiterate our commitment to furthering it, guided by mutual respect, shared values, and strategic cooperation,” Hon. Afenyo-Markin affirmed.
The Minority Caucus also expressed its appreciation for India’s commitment to supporting Ghana’s ambition to become a vaccine manufacturing hub for the African continent. Furthermore, they conveyed their optimism for the swift and effective implementation of the Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) recently signed between the two countries in key areas such as agriculture, health, defence, and digital infrastructure.
Hon. Afenyo-Markin paid special tribute to Prime Minister Modi’s personal and political journey, characterising it as a compelling illustration of resilience, transformation, and governance centred on the needs of the people.
“We in the Minority find deep inspiration in his story. His example proves that rebranding—when grounded in conviction, strategy, and a sincere desire to serve—is not only possible but necessary,” Hon. Afenyo-Markin noted with admiration.
Reflecting on Prime Minister Modi’s remarkable rise from humble beginnings to securing an unprecedented three consecutive election victories, the statement also acknowledged his success in transforming the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) into a dominant force in Indian national politics.
“He rebranded a party once seen as marginal, that had long been in the shadows of Indian politics, and gave it new life—anchoring it in ideological clarity, national pride, disciplined organisation, and people-centred governance,” the statement elaborated.
Afenyo-Markin urged leaders in Ghana to learn from Prime Minister Modi’s achievements in transforming the state of Gujarat into a prime investment destination, his unwavering commitment to economic productivity over populist measures, and his innovative digital governance initiatives that have fostered greater inclusion and transparency in India.
“Those of us who lead Ghana must confront the dependency mindset that continues to trap too many of our people. Ghanaian entrepreneurs do not need charity—they need opportunity,” the Minority Leader asserted in his statement.
He also lauded Prime Minister Modi’s leadership style, which has focused on unity in a religiously and ethnically diverse India, and called on Ghana to embrace a political culture that promotes healing and togetherness rather than division.
Hon. Afenyo-Markin proudly mentioned the joint investment in the Effutu constituency, specifically the ongoing construction of Sub-Saharan Africa’s first tissue factory utilising wood pulp. This significant $31 million project, which commenced in 2023 and is anticipated to be commissioned in October 2025, is projected to have an annual production capacity of 22,000 metric tons of jumbo tissue rolls and is expected to create over 200 direct job opportunities for Ghanaians.
“This is not just a factory—it is a symbol of what Indian-Ghanaian collaboration can achieve,” he remarked enthusiastically.
Hon. Afenyo-Markin advocated for the formal strengthening of the relationship between the two countries through enhanced parliamentary diplomacy, including the establishment of a dedicated Ghana–India Parliamentary Friendship Association.
He emphasised that bilateral partnerships should extend beyond mere investment to prioritise local job creation, facilitate knowledge transfer, promote industrialisation, and ensure inclusive growth that benefits all segments of society.
He said, “Ghana is not just a market; we are partners in shaping the next frontier of global development. We pledge our full support for the strengthening of Ghana–India relations and stand ready to deepen the bond between our nations, for the benefit of generations to come.