Indian High Commissioner to Ghana Mr. Sugandh Rajaram, speaking at the AgriTech West Africa 2023 Exhibition, called for greater cooperation between India and Ghana in the area of agriculture and rural development.
The call for agricultural partnerships between India and Ghana has become increasingly important under the AfCFTA, which presents a massive opportunity for Africa to explore all the benefits of the continent.
Mr. Rajaram emphasised the need to prioritise agriculture as a key sector in the two countries’ relations.
India opened its representative office in Accra in 1953 – prior to Ghana’s independence – and established full-fledged diplomatic relations with Ghana in 1957, immediately after it attained independence.
Ghana’s founding father, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and India’s Jawaharlal Nehru’s visionary leadership led to the establishment of cordial and fruitful relations between the two countries some six decades ago.
India has been supporting Ghana’s development by providing assistance in developmental projects through provision of Lines of Credit (LoC) and grants.
That is why the High Commissioner called on Indian businesses to showcase their products and expertise and to come up with new ideas to facilitate a partnership between India and Ghana.
He encouraged both governments to support initiatives that would promote economic relations in agriculture, particularly in rural areas. Mr. Rajaram also highlighted the role of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in expanding the continental market, and called on Indian businesses to explore opportunities for local investment and value addition.
For his part, the Deputy Trade Minister, Mr. Baafi, called for collaboration between Ghana and India to ensure the success of the agricultural sector, highlighting the AfCFTA as a critical opportunity for the continent to explore all the benefits of agriculture.
He added that the success of our country is dependent on the success of all its sectors, and agriculture is a crucial aspect of that success. Mr. Baafi also called on India to help Ghana ensure that the agricultural sector is well-equipped to meet the challenges of tomorrow.
Indeed, India is a promising industrial nation that also produces crucial agricultural machinery like tractors, combined harvesters, ploughs, etc., which can be deployed effectively to boost agricultural production.
AgriTech West Africa is an annual exhibition which focuses on Agriculture and Technology. The exhibition serves as a platform for individuals to showcase their products, exchange ideas, and collaborate on projects that will drive agricultural development across the African continent.
