President John Dramani Mahama yesterday, July 2, conferred Ghana’s highest national honour, the Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana, on the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, during the latter's two-day official visit to Ghana.

He bestowed this honour on H.E. Modi at a state banquet held in his honour at the presidency.

The honorary conferment, President Mahama, was in recognition of Modi's “distinguished statesmanship and influential global leadership”.

He also commended the Prime Minister for his visit to Ghana, highlighting both countries historical ties and former leaders of the respective countries contributions to democracy and emancipation.

“This visit is a testament to the deep-rooted historical ties between Ghana and India, founded on the visionary leadership of Ghana’s first President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and India’s former Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru”, he noted.

According to the government, the honour underscores India’s unwavering support for Ghana’s development and Prime Minister Modi’s contribution to boosting economic cooperation between the two countries.

The gesture also served as a symbolic tribute to the 1.4 billion people of India.

In reaction to the honour done him, H.E. Modi thanked the Ghanaian people and expressed commitment to fostering the bilateral relation between both countries.

"I thank the people and Government of Ghana for conferring ‘The Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana’ upon me. This honour is dedicated to the bright future of our youth, their aspirations, our rich cultural diversity and the historical ties between India and Ghana."

"This honour is also a responsibility; to keep working towards stronger India-Ghana friendship. India will always stand with the people of Ghana and continue to contribute as a trusted friend and development partner," he wrote in a post on X.

President Mahama received the Indian leader at the airport with full state honours, including a guard of honour and cultural performances, ahead of bilateral talks at the Jubilee House.

His visit to Ghana marks a significant milestone for both countries, as this marks his first-ever visit to the country, since his 11 years of being Prime Minister and notably, the first visit by any Indian Prime Minister to Ghana in over 3 decades.

India has been a key development partner to Ghana, providing credit facilities and grants that have supported landmark projects such as the Jubilee House, Komenda Sugar Factory, Tema-Mpakadan Railway Line, and the Yendi Water Supply Project.

During the visit, both countries signed several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at deepening cooperation in key sectors including health, education, trade, agriculture, and security.

He called for enhanced investment collaboration and broad-based support for Ghana’s economic reset agenda.