President John Dramani Mahama says Ghana’s exports to India have risen from about US$3 billion to almost US$7 billion, making India one of the biggest markets for Ghanaian goods. He made the remarks on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, when India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, called on him at the Presidency in Accra.
“Our exports to India have increased from just about US$3 billion to almost US$7 billion,” Mahama said, adding that the growth was driven mainly by goods exports.
Dr Jaishankar is on a two-day official visit to Ghana. His talks with the President focused on trade, investment, railway development and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
The meeting was attended by Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and other government officials.
Ghana’s exports to India more than double
The President’s figure points to a sharp jump in Ghana’s sales to India in a short period. He did not give the exact time frame or a product breakdown during the meeting.
Official Indian government data supports the trend. An April 2026 brief on India-Ghana relations from India’s Ministry of External Affairs shows India’s imports from Ghana reached about US$5.70 billion in just the first ten months (April 2025 to January 2026) of India’s 2025-26 financial year.
That compares with about US$1.79 billion for the whole of the 2024-25 financial year. The same brief says gold accounts for more than 70 per cent of what India buys from Ghana.
Ghana-India trade figures at a glance
According to the Indian government brief (figures in US dollars, Indian financial years April–March):
- 2024-25 total trade: about US$3.14 billion
- 2025-26 total trade (April–January only): about US$6.74 billion
- India’s imports from Ghana, 2024-25: about US$1.79 billion
- India’s imports from Ghana, April 2025–January 2026: about US$5.70 billion
- India’s exports to Ghana, April 2025–January 2026: about US$1.05 billion
- Trade balance: in Ghana’s favour by about US$4.65 billion over the ten months
The move from roughly US$3 billion to nearly US$7 billion in total trade between the two periods closely matches the range the President cited.
What Ghana buys from India
Mahama said Ghana also benefits from Indian goods, including agricultural machinery and automobiles such as buses.
India has long supplied vehicles, machinery and pharmaceuticals to the Ghanaian market, while Ghana’s main exports to India are dominated by gold.
Mahama seeks Indian partnership in pharmaceuticals and rail
The President said Ghana is open to partnerships that support local production of medicines and vaccines, in line with the health sovereignty goals of his government’s “Accra Reset” agenda.
He pointed to Atlantic Life Sciences, which he described as an Indian-linked pharmaceutical company, as working with local firm KinaPharma on vaccines for Ghana.
Mahama also named the Jubilee House, the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT and the Tema-Mpakadan Railway Line as examples of the two countries’ partnership.
Jaishankar: Modi wants “more concrete shape” for partnership
Dr Jaishankar conveyed greetings from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu. He said both leaders want the comprehensive partnership agreed with Ghana to be given more substance through new areas of cooperation.
He said the task of giving the partnership “more concrete shape” falls to the two countries’ foreign ministers. Mahama cited Modi’s July 2025 state visit to Ghana, followed by Jaishankar’s trip, as signs of deepening ties.
Ghana and India sign new MoUs
During the visit, Ghana and India signed several memoranda of understanding covering agriculture, healthcare, railway development, zoological studies and ICT.
At the same engagement, Mr Ablakwa confirmed that Cabinet has approved Ghana’s application to join the BRICS group of emerging economies. GhanaTrends earlier reported on Ghana’s decision to apply to join BRICS, a bloc in which India is a founding member.
What the Ghana-India trade growth means for Ghanaians [VIDEO]
Higher exports to India bring in more foreign exchange, which can support the cedi and Ghana’s reserves at a time when the currency has been under pressure.
However, because gold makes up most of the exports, the gains are heavily tied to gold prices and output. Wider trade in processed goods, medicines and farm products could spread the benefits to more businesses and workers.
For local manufacturers and health workers, Indian partnerships in drug and vaccine production could, if delivered, reduce Ghana’s reliance on imported medicines.
What happens next
The MoUs signed during the visit are expected to be followed by implementation talks between the relevant ministries and agencies of both countries.
Ghana will also pursue its BRICS application, with officials saying the country will use its ties with members such as India to push for trade, investment and economic cooperation.
Key details at a glance
- Mahama says Ghana’s exports to India rose from about US$3 billion to almost US$7 billion.
- He spoke on October 6, 2026, when India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar visited the Presidency.
- Indian data shows Ghana-India trade hit about US$6.74 billion in April 2025–January 2026, up from US$3.14 billion in 2024-25.
- Gold accounts for over 70 per cent of India’s imports from Ghana.
- Talks covered trade, investment, rail and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
- MoUs were signed on agriculture, healthcare, railways, zoological studies and ICT.
- Cabinet has approved Ghana’s application to join BRICS.
FAQs
How much does Ghana export to India?
President Mahama says Ghana’s exports to India have grown to almost US$7 billion, up from about US$3 billion. Indian government data shows India imported about US$5.70 billion worth of goods from Ghana between April 2025 and January 2026.
What does Ghana export to India?
Gold is Ghana’s main export to India, making up more than 70 per cent of India’s imports from Ghana, according to India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
Why did Jaishankar visit Ghana?
India’s External Affairs Minister was in Ghana on a two-day official visit to deepen the comprehensive partnership between the two countries, with talks on trade, investment, rail, health and ICT.
Ghana’s trade with India has more than doubled within a short period, driven largely by gold exports, and both governments now say they want to turn the partnership into concrete projects in rail, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and ICT. How quickly the new MoUs are implemented, and whether trade expands beyond gold, will shape how much ordinary Ghanaians benefit.
