Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred the prestigious Order of the Star of Ghana, one of the nation’s highest civilian honors, on Wednesday. The award was presented by Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama in recognition of PM Modi’s distinguished statesmanship and influential global leadership, as noted in an official statement by India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
This distinguished honor has previously been awarded to globally renowned leaders, including:
-
Queen Elizabeth II – in 2007 as Queen of the United Kingdom
-
Nelson Mandela – in 1998, Former President of South Africa
-
Kofi Annan – in 2000, Former UN Secretary-General
-
Alassane Ouattara – in 2017, President of Côte d’Ivoire
-
King Charles III – in 2018, then Prince of Wales
-
King Mohammed VI – in 2017, King of Morocco
-
Giorgio Napolitano – in 2006, Former President of Italy
Accepting the honor on behalf of 1.4 billion Indians, Prime Minister Modi dedicated the award to India’s youth, rich cultural heritage, and the enduring friendship between India and Ghana.
In a heartfelt message on X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi stated:
“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.”
Expressing gratitude for the warm gesture, PM Modi reaffirmed that shared democratic values and mutual respect form the foundation of the India-Ghana relationship. He emphasized that this recognition not only strengthens the deep-rooted friendship between the two countries but also entrusts him with a greater responsibility to advance bilateral ties.
The Ministry of External Affairs added that the historic State Visit by PM Modi is poised to inject new momentum into India-Ghana relations, further reinforcing India’s role as a trusted development partner in Africa.
