Hon’ble Minister of Transport H.E Kwaku Ofori Asiamah
Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto
Hon’ble Ministers of State,
Hon’ble Members of Parliament,
Excellencies, Members of the diplomatic corps,
Naame, Neme, Nananom
Members from all walks of Ghanaian society,
Members of Indian community,
Friends from the media,
It is a singular honour to be part of India's 71st Independence Day celebrations in Ghana. We celebrate not just an anniversary of 1947, but a seminal moment in world history: the collapse of colonialism and imperialism across Asia and Africa; we celebrate
the memory of an extraordinary generation of leaders which not only dared to dream of freedom but made our people's dreams reality. We celebrate the economic and political bridges they built between India and Africa; they remain pathways of continued friendship,
rising mutual prosperity and enhanced security against the menace of our age, terrorism.
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to visit Ussher fort and the surrounding areas of Jamestown. Ghana, among the most prosperous regions of Africa, was turned into a gateway to hell from these forts and castles, as the barbaric trade in slavery became big business
in the West. The dark dungeons of Elmina castle resonate with the unspeakable pain of your ancestors; the shackles and other instruments of torture lodged in their museums are evidence of a terrible moral degradation, physical violence and collective tyranny.
The spirit of Ghana, however, rooted in the spirit of traditional democracy, strengthened by a resilient culture, could not be long subdued. I salute the strong will and indomitable courage of the people of Ghana. Ghana was the first sub-Saharan African nation
to win independence, in 1957. India was among the first to recognize and applaud this achievement, which is why we are also celebrating the 60th anniversary of India-Ghana diplomatic relations, this year.
Accra became the rallying point for several leaders of the larger African liberation struggle, like Kenneth Kaunda, Oliver Thambo, Jomo Kenyatta, Sam Nujoma and other stars of a stellar generation. Ghana was also at the forefront in giving shape to Pan-Africanism
based on the ideals of solidarity, brotherhood and unique African identity, leading to the establishment of OAU, the precursor to the current African Union.
Africa has a special place in Indian history and in Indian hearts. Mahatma Gandhi first revealed his revolutionary concept of ahimsa- the power of truth embodied in a non-violent uprising against injustice- in Africa. Ahimsa ended the rule of fear. The old
world, which had complacently believed that colonialism would last for centuries, watched in astonishment as the mightiest empire in history crumbled before the fearless power of non-violence. India has always believed in a shared destiny. We stood with our
African sisters and brothers as they quickened the pace of freedom both from foreign rule and insane concepts like apartheid. As the revered Nelson Mandela said: "India came to our aid when the rest of the world stood by or gave succour to our oppressors.
When the doors of international Councils were closed to us, India opened the way. You took up our battles, as if they were your own.” They were our own, and they shall always remain our own.
Our friendship is based on shared values. India and Ghana believe that democracy is the best guarantor of socio-economic success, including freedom from poverty. Ghana's free, fair and transparent elections, and the smooth transition of power in January this
year, once again demonstrated Ghana's credentials as the beacon of democracy across Africa. Appreciating its significance, both Hon'ble President of India and Hon'ble Prime Minister of India sent congratulatory messages to His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
on his election as President of the Republic of Ghana.
Our economies are also on the upward growth trajectory. More importantly, our governments are seeking to ensure that the largest share of economic growth must go to those who need it most, the poor. India lauds Ghana for its new 'One District; One Factory',
'One Village, One Dam' and 'Planting for Food and Jobs' initiatives. Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi's philosophy of governance is summed up in a word: Antodaya. The first fruits of growth must go to the last in the queue.
At home, under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, we have set in motion a set of policies and projects aimed at the complete eradication of poverty. A week ago, on August 9th, Prime Minister Modi charted a vision for a "New India”; an India free of poverty,
corruption, terrorism, casteism, communalism and dirt. Prime Minister Modi's methods are radical. Gender emancipation and widespread use of technology are at the heart of his mission. There are 108 new government schemes in operation, but two examples will
best substantiate the new thinking. Under Prime Minister's MUDRA programme loans worth roughly US $ 55 billion have been disbursed to the low-income self-employed, who are at the base of the economic pyramid. 78% of those taking these very soft loans are women.
Under Prime Minister's Housing Plan, a home loan is given only if a woman is either sole owner of the property or a partner-owner. A man is entitled only if he is a widower or a bachelor. The larger plan is to ensure that every Indian lives in a home with
a proper roof and basic facilities including a bath and toilet, by 2022. Nearly 30 million impoverished women have been given gas cylinders and now cook in smokeless kitchens. There is much more – Jan Dhan, a switch to LED bulbs, Beti Padhao, Beti Bachao to
name a few.
India's developmental partnership with Ghana has already crossed half a billion dollars. It is based on the priorities set by the Government in answer to the needs of the people of Ghana. India has been a reliable partner in various sectors of Ghana and projects
have been implemented in the areas of rural electrification, power transmission, agricultural mechanization, railways, agro and fish processing. The iconic Flag Staff House is a shining example.
A vibrant Indian diaspora has also played an important role in cementing our ties and bringing our countries and our cultures closer. Many of them have become Ghanian citizens. I thank the people and successive governments of Ghana for ensuring the safety and
security of the Indian community in Ghana. I thank the people of Ghana for their renowned hospitality and warmth.
Ladies and Gentleman,
There is a very good reason why the words peace and prosperity are always used together. There can be no prosperity without peace. The biggest challenge to contemporary peace is the evil of terrorism. It is the
gravest threat the world has faced since World War II. It would be naive to think that terrorists do not have political objectives, that they seek chaos through random attacks. They have concrete political objectives. They are challenging the concept of the
nation state, which has been central to the architecture of stability in the modern world. The second critical threat is to harmony in plural societies. They inject fear through the random use of violence, and seek to create walls of suspicion and dread, with
significant consequence upon communities, which have lived in harmony for centuries.
There are countries which sup with this devil and use terrorism as an instrument of state policy. No cause can justify the violence and destruction orchestrated through terrorism. The lack of a comprehensive global strategy to combat terrorism has been exploited
by these countries and terrorist groups. The inability of the UN to agree on the definition of terrorism for the last two decades has exacerbated the problem. Prime Minister Modi has placed a 10-point agenda to counter terrorism at the recently concluded G-20
Summit in Hamburg. We seek the co-operation of friends like Ghana in combating this global evil and creating a stronger global framework for security.
As I think of the essence of Ghana, I am reminded of what the poet Maya Angelou said of Ghana and I quote; "While the rest of the world has been improving technology, Ghana has been improving the quality of man's humanity to man.” We believe in the old Sanskrit
philosophical adage: "The whole world is a family”. And among the innumerable cousins, India and Ghana are brothers.
Friends,
May I request you to join me in raising a toast,
- To the health, happiness and wellbeing of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana,
- To the wellbeing and prosperity of the people of Ghana,
- To the everlasting friendship between India and Ghana!
Thank You!