India-Ghana relations have traditionally been warm and friendly, resting on a solid foundation anchored in shared values and common vision.
The Indian High Commissioner to Ghana, His Excellency Manish Gupta, has recently held high profile meetings with Ghanaian Government officials to explore avenues to strengthen bilateral relationship between the two countries. Two weeks ago, I had an interaction with High Commissioner Manish Gupta on the current state of bilateral relations between Ghana and India.
Question: Great to be meeting you today Your Excellency, how has it been for you since you arrived in Ghana?
Answer: I arrived in Ghana about four months ago and it has been a fascinating journey. I am deeply touched by the warmth and hospitality of the Ghanaian people and the spirit of Akwaaba. I am quite impressed to see the smart and aspiring youth filled with innovative ideas and a deep sense of cultural pride. I have no doubt that the next generation is well-placed to put Ghana on rapid economic progress and prosperity. I sense love and affection for India and its culture.
Ghana’s tropical greenery, verdant hills, diverse animal life and stretches of sandy beaches along a picturesque coast is quite captivating. On my recent travels to the Eastern, Central and Volta Regions, I had the opportunity to interact with representatives from different sectors, learn more about the regions, experience the natural beauty and cuisine. It is just the beginning and a great start for me. There is a lot to explore.
Question: How will you describe yourself – your upbringing and career journey?
Answer: I come from north-west India from the state of Rajasthan – a state known for its rich cultural heritage, traditions and history. It’s globally famous for its forts, palaces and cuisine. Desert covers a large part of the state.
I was brought up in the small town of Kota, which is now dubbed as the education city of India. I grew up in a family where my parents prioritised education. My father was an engineer and my mother a professor in Political Science. I did my Engineering in Varanasi, from IIT, BHU. That experience left an indelible imprint on me. After pursuing a career in the IT industry briefly, I joined the world of diplomacy.
Question: Becoming a diplomat, was it a childhood dream or an accident? What has been your experience after being a diplomat for over 2 decades?
Answer: There was always a sublime desire and interest as I grew up in an environment where there was good exposure to international developments and discussions on international relations. In some ways, it was accidental as I pursued the sought-after path of Engineering from one of the premier Indian institutes. I was determined to pursue a Masters in Engineering. But soon, I got the opportunity to join the world of civil services and that shifted my career trajectory.
To summarise, this diplomatic journey has been incredible. Immense learnings from different cultures, building bridges among countries and contributing your best for the well-being of humanity. In my diplomatic career spanning over 25 years, I have done assignments in different countries and continents –Brussels, Dakar, New York, Istanbul, Sydney and now in Accra.
Question: You are not new to the African continent, you served in Dakar from 2002 to 2005, what does the Ghanaian assignment mean to you?
Answer: I served in Dakar as a young diplomat nearly two decades ago and I have lasting memories of my time travelling in parts of West Africa. In spite of challenges, a lot of economic transformation has happened since then in this region. You see young demographics with hopes and aspirations that are resilient and adaptable to all circumstances.
My assignment in Ghana holds a special place in my heart. Our ties with Ghana are deep-rooted and have a rich historical legacy. Indian diplomatic presence here predates Ghana’s independence. Our geographies are far apart, yet the spirit of Akwaaba and the Indian tradition of Vasudheva Kutumbkam – World is one Family – binds us together. The vision of our founding fathers as well as the bonds of special friendship between President Nkrumah and PM Nehru laid the foundations of our relations that have grown from strength to strength.
And the visionary role Ghana has played, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, has been a trailblazer in many ways – from being the lodestar for freedom movements in sub-Saharan Africa and the first to achieve its independence, its ardent advocacy for African unity and now spearheading the drive for Africa’s economic integration.
There are extensive complementarities between India and Ghana and a lot can be done together. Also, there are not many countries in the world where our diaspora roots are this deep. It is heartening to see that some Indian-Ghanaians are now in their fifth generation, are woven into the tapestry of Ghana, and are well-placed to contribute toward taking this relationship to the next level. Also, there has been a significant step up in India’s overall engagement with the African continent during the last decade. This assignment comes at an exciting time when we are at the cusp of opportunity.
Question: As the Head of Mission, what will be the direction of the mission under your leadership? Any specific areas or sectors of keen interest as part of Ghana-India bilateral relations?
Answer: My endeavour will be to further strengthen our bonds of friendship as well as deepen and diversify our trade, economic and investment partnership. I would also strive to deepen our engagement with the youth in culture and in the sports domain.
Already, we have a regular exchange of high-level visits and work closely on issues of bilateral interest as well as of the global south. President Akufo-Addo last visited India in March, 2018 on the occasion of ISA. Foreign Minister Shirley Botchwey was in India recently. India has a good developmental and economic footprint in Ghana, and has been a reliable and steady partner in Ghana’s developmental journey. India is among the leading trade partners and source of FDI in Ghana. To put in perspective, nearly US$2bn in FDI and about US$1billion by means of LOC on concessional basis; and buyers credit have been extended to Ghana during the last two decades. Our trade is now at nearly US$3bn. The flagship projects include the Jubilee House, Kofi Annan Centre of ICT, Foreign Services Training Institute and the Tema Mpakadan Railway project.
The Government of India is annually providing 250 fully-financed slots in Ghana toward higher education, technical and economic cooperation programmes in various disciplines and defence training. Cumulatively around 4000 Ghanaian nationals have availed themselves for the programme so far.
It is heartening to see that our partnership with Ghana is going to the next level where G2G ties are ably supplemented by P2P ties. People-to-people linkages are the bedrock of our relationship.
Besides, India’s ongoing rapid advances in digital public infrastructure, health, SMEs, renewable energy, space applications of technology could be new potential areas of cooperation in our bilateral ties. We will continue to extend our hand of cooperation as Ghana marches toward prosperity.
Question: In the area of Trade and Investment, are there key initiatives or programmes geared at enhancing the trade volume between the two countries and Indian investments in Ghana?
Answer: We have a regular structured dialogue on trade and investment. Earlier this month, we had the 4th Meeting of JTC with the official delegation accompanied by a business delegation. The meeting provided an opportunity to explore new areas of cooperation – digital public infrastructure, local currency settlement system, leveraging emerging opportunities offered by African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the possibility of Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement. Both sides comprehensively reviewed cooperation in priority sectors of pharmaceuticals, health, IT, textiles, agriculture and food processing, automotive, energy, mining and critical minerals.
Ghana – given its location, safe and secure environment – remains a preferred partner of choice for Indian industry in the West African region. Alongside G2G efforts, we are also mobilising the Indian private sector in a big way. Seven delegations have visited Ghana during the last four
months in textiles, agriculture, pharma, automotive and education sectors. Further, in August, we have the annual India Africa EXIM Bank Conclave that brings together policy-makers, business and industry from India and Africa together. Developmental cooperation has been supported by LOCs and buyers credit under the aegis of EXIM Bank.
We are working toward attracting Indian investments in textiles, automotive components, agriculture and the pharmaceuticals sector, building local capacities and tapping into the diaspora networks.
Question: Knowing the vital role the media plays in national development and enhancing our democracy, are there opportunities for collaboration for capacity-building in media and exchanges for Ghanaian media practitioners?
Answer: Media is the fourth pillar and watchdog of democracy. I am delighted to see that we have a vibrant print and electronic media in Ghana. There is a good degree of diversity. News outlets and radio programmes are also available in local languages that enhance people’s connection at the grass roots.
We are working toward a visit by a Ghanaian media delegation to India during the course of this year, which will offer them an opportunity to experience first-hand the sweeping developments in India’s media landscape and deepen engagement with their Indian counterparts. It is incredibly diverse and exciting with nearly 900 TV channels, over 550 radio stations, 150,000 newspapers and journals, and over 800 million Internet users. I look forward to building partnerships in the media domain between our two countries.
>>>Chris is a thought leader in Marketing Communications, a Stakeholder Relationship Management Professional and International Cooperation Specialist. Over the last 15 years, he has made tremendous impact within Africa’s corporate communications and creative arts sectors. He can be reached at [email protected] / +233 20 854 1480.
