By Seli Baisie
India’s 77th Republic Day has been commemorated in Accra with a colourful reception that celebrated cultural exchange, democratic values and the growing partnership between Ghana and India.
The event, hosted by the High Commissioner of India to Ghana, H.E. Manish Gupta, and his wife Mrs Nimeesha Gupta, was held at India House in Accra on January 27, 2026, and brought together more than 350 guests from government, parliament, the diplomatic corps, traditional authorities, business, civil society, the media and the Indian community.
Among those in attendance were the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, who served as Chief Guest, the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Dzifa Gomashie, the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Rashid Pelpuo, and the Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, alongside other senior officials.
The evening featured Indian and Ghanaian cultural performances, including a Bharatnatyam recital, Bollywood dance performances and musical renditions by INDIGHA, an Indo-Afro band, which performed both national anthems.
Republic Day and its significance
India’s Republic Day commemorates the adoption of the country’s constitution on January 26, 1950, marking its transition to a sovereign democratic republic. Speaking at the event, Mr Gupta described the day as a reflection of India’s long democratic tradition.
“Long before modern democracies came into being, the principles of collective governance were embedded in our soil,” he said, adding that India proudly sees itself as the “Mother of Democracy”.
He noted that India is now the world’s fourth-largest economy and is working towards its long-term development vision, Viksit Bharat 2047, which aims to make the country fully developed by the centenary of its independence.
Strengthening Ghana–India relations
Mr Gupta highlighted the growing economic and strategic ties between the two countries, describing the past year as a turning point in bilateral relations.
“The state visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Ghana in July 2025 elevated our ties to a comprehensive partnership, our first in this region,” he said, quoting the Indian leader’s remark that “India is not just a partner, but a co-traveller in Ghana’s development journey.”
He added that bilateral trade between the two countries has reached nearly $5 billion, ahead of schedule of the initial target of $6 billion within five years.
India, he said, has also invested more than $2 billion across over 900 projects in Ghana, spanning manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, services and energy, while continuing to support infrastructure development and capacity building.
Ghana’s perspective
Minister for Communications, Samuel Nartey George traced the roots of the relationship to the early years of independence, when Ghana’s first president Kwame Nkrumah and India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru forged a bond of solidarity.
“That visionary partnership continues to guide our relations today,” he said, noting that the 2025 state visit by Prime Minister Modi marked a defining milestone in cooperation between the two countries.
He also acknowledged India’s contributions to Ghana’s development, citing projects such as the Jubilee House, Tema–Mpakadan railway line, Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT, and the Komenda Sugar Factory as visible symbols of the partnership.
Sam George further praised India’s role in human resource development through scholarships and technical training, saying these initiatives have empowered thousands of Ghanaians and strengthened institutional capacity over the years.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation in areas such as digital transformation, renewable energy, agriculture, trade, and skills development, as well as their shared advocacy for the Global South in international forums.
