On first leg of five-nation tour, PM receives 21-gun salute in Ghana

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome with a 21-gun salute upon his arrival in Ghana on Wednesday evening.

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Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama received Modi at the airport in Accra with a warm welcome, underscoring the close ties between the two nations.

“This gesture is reflective of the strong and historic bonds of friendship between the two countries,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement, adding that the visit is “historic” and will further deepen the India-Ghana partnership.

Earlier in the day, before departing on a five-nation tour that includes Brazil, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India remains committed to BRICS as a vital platform for collaboration among emerging economies.

BRICS grouping comprises 10 member countries, including Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia and the UAE.

The PM said, “I will attend the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro on July 6-7. Together, we strive for a more peaceful, equitable, just, democratic and balanced multipolar world order.”

He added that on the sidelines of the BRICS summit, he would also meet several world leaders and also travel to Brasilia for a bilateral state visit.

Modi’s visit to Brazil is the first by an Indian Prime Minister in nearly six decades. “This visit will provide an opportunity to strengthen our close partnership with Brazil and work with my friend, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, on advancing the priorities of the Global South,” he said.

After Ghana, Modi is scheduled to visit Trinidad & Tobago, Argentina, Brazil and Namibia between July 2 and 9.

The PM’s tour is aimed at enhancing India’s deepening engagement with the Global South and its commitment to forging stronger partnerships across the Atlantic.

“I am confident that my visits to the five countries will reinforce our bonds friendship across the Global South, strengthen our partnerships on both sides of the Atlantic and deepen engagements in the multilateral platforms such as BRICS, the African Union, ECOWAS and the CARICOM,” the PM said.

During his Ghana visit, the PM is expected to focus on enhancing cooperation in sectors such as investment, energy, health, security and development. “Ghana is a valued partner in the Global South and plays an important role in the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States,” he said.

The PM will also address the Parliament of Ghana. Then in West Africa, the PM will travel to Trinidad & Tobago on July 3-4.

Terming the Caribbean nation a country with which India shares “deep-rooted historical, cultural and people-to-people connect”, Modi noted that this year marks 180 years since the first Indians arrived there.

He will meet President Christine Carla Kangaloo and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. “This visit will provide an opportunity to rejuvenate the special bonds of ancestry and kinship that unite us,” he said.

Following this, the PM will head to Buenos Aires, marking the first bilateral visit by an Indian PM to Argentina in 57 years. Argentina, described as “a key economic partner in Latin America and a close collaborator in the G20”, is expected to deepen collaboration with India in areas like agriculture, energy, trade, technology and critical minerals.

The PM is scheduled to meet President Javier Milei.

The tour will conclude in Namibia, where PM Modi will meet President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.