Modi said the award was a matter of great pride and honour for him
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement that the award was conferred on the PM in recognition of his "distinguished statesmanship and influential global leadership",
"This honour is also a responsibility; to keep working towards a stronger India-Ghana friendship. India will always stand with the people of Ghana and continue to contribute as a trusted friend and development partner," PM said in a post on X.
"I humbly accept the award on behalf of the 140 crore Indians," he said in his acceptance speech, dedicating it to the aspirations and bright future of the youth of the two countries, the historical ties between Ghana and India, and their rich cultural traditions and diversity. Thanking the people and government of Ghana for the special gesture, PM noted that the "shared democratic values and traditions of the two countries would continue to nurture the partnership". He added the award "further deepens the friendship between the two countries and places new responsibility on him to embrace and advance bilateral ties".
Apart from Mr Modi, prominent personalities awarded the 'Order of the Star of Ghana' include Queen Elizabeth II as Queen of the UK, Nelson Mandela, the former president of South Africa, and Kofi Annan, the former secretary-general of the UN, King Charles III as the Prince of Wales in 2018, King Mohammed VI, the King of Morocco, and Giorgio Napolitano, the former president of Italy.
Earlier, Modi held wide-ranging talks with Mahama, after which India and Ghana elevated their ties to the level of a comprehensive partnership. Four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed after the talks.
Mr Modi, in his media statement after the talks said India is not just a partner but a co-traveller in Ghana's development journey. He added said both sides have set a target of doubling the two-way trade in the next five years. The PM also highlighted the upswing in trade relations between the two countries.
"Indian companies have invested nearly two billion dollars in about 900 projects. Today, we have set a target to double our mutual trade in the next five years…In the field of FinTech, India is ready to share its experience of UPI digital payments with Ghana," PM noted. He added that the Indian companies will cooperate in the exploration and mining of critical minerals. India-Ghana cooperation will also be enhanced in areas such as training of armed forces, maritime security, defence supply and cyber security, he added.
PM also addressed the Parliament of Ghana, where a couple of legislators were seen wearing traditional Indian attire to show solidarity with India. Before leaving for Trinidad and Tobago, PM paid homage at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park (KNMP) dedicated to Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's founding President and a revered leader of the African independence movement.
In his address to the Parliament, Mr Modi also said a strong India will contribute to a more stable and prosperous world and pushed for credible and effective reforms in the global governance in the wake of changing circumstances.
“As the world's largest democracy, India is a pillar of strength for the world. A strong India will contribute to a more stable and prosperous world," PM said. He underlined that the world order created after World War II is changing fast.
