External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar paid an official visit to Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and Ethiopia from 06–10 October 2026.
Ghana
During the visit, EAM called on President John Dramani Mahama and conveyed warm greetings from President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Modi. Both the leaders discussed about the strong momentum in India-Ghana partnership following the landmark visit of PM Modi to Ghana in July 2025. EAM held bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa of Ghana and reviewed the cooperation in trade and investment, development partnership, pharmaceuticals, capacity building, defence, technology, and people-to-people ties. They exchanged views on West Africa, ECOWAS, the African Union, UN reform and cooperation for the Global South. EAM also met the Ministers for Interior, Education, Fisheries and Aquaculture, and Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts. EAM also interacted with the members of Indian community and ITEC scholars & alumni.
During the joint media interaction, EAM appreciated Ghana’s leadership on reparatory justice and restitution of cultural properties, including its role in advancing the relevant UN General Assembly resolution. Ghana acknowledged India’s constructive role and its contribution to securing permanent membership for the African Union in the G20 during India’s G20 Presidency. The two sides signed two MoUs on academic, scientific research and capacity-building cooperation, and agricultural research and education. EAM and FM Ablakwa planted a Plumeria sapling at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in support of the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” and “Tree for Life” initiatives. EAM addressed the Ghana Foreign Service Institute on “India, Ghana and the Global South”, visited the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, and received Ghana’s Instrument of Acceptance for the International Big Cat Alliance. Both sides identified pharmaceuticals and health, mining, defence, railways, digital technology, agricultural mechanization, value addition, industrialisation and job creation as priority areas for future cooperation.
Côte d’Ivoire
During his visit, EAM called on President Alassane Ouattara and conveyed personal greetings of President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Modi. EAM thanked the President for sharing his vision for a strong, enduring and mutually beneficial partnership. EAM met Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Téné Birahima Ouattara, and discussed the growing defence and security partnership. EAM held bilateral meeting with Minister of State, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Nialé Kaba, reviewing the full range of bilateral relations and opportunities in trade, investment, agriculture and agro-processing, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, digital technology, energy, infrastructure, education and capacity building. Both sides noted that bilateral trade exceeds US$1.5 billion and explored its further expansion through investment, local manufacturing, processing and value addition. They also exchanged views on regional and global developments and reaffirmed their commitment to South-South cooperation and advancing African and Global South priorities in international forums.
During the visit, EAM interacted with Ivorian alumni of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme who have undergone training and capacity-building courses in India. Minister of National Education, Literacy and Technical Education N’Guessan Koffi, also joined in the interaction which highlighted the important role of capacity building and skill development in strengthening the partnership.
EAM also interacted with members of the Indian community and appreciated their contribution to the economic development of Côte d’Ivoire and to strengthening the bonds of friendship and people-to-people ties between the two countries.
The visit provided fresh momentum to the longstanding and friendly relations between India and Côte d’Ivoire and underscored the shared commitment of both sides to broaden and deepen their mutually beneficial partnership.
Ethiopia
During the visit, EAM called on Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and conveyed warm greetings from Prime Minister Modi. EAM congratulated Prime Minister Abiy on his re-election and reaffirmed India’s commitment to advancing close bilateral engagement based on mutual benefit and shared priorities. He handed over a personal message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Further, EAM held wide-ranging and productive discussions with Dr. Gedion Timothewos, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia. The two leaders reviewed the entire spectrum of India-Ethiopia bilateral relations and reaffirmed their shared commitment to deepening cooperation in areas including trade and investment, agriculture, renewable energy, health, education, skill development, defense, mining, Artificial Intelligence, and digital public infrastructure. They also exchanged perspectives on regional developments and global issues of mutual interest.
EAM also visited the National Palace Museum, the Science Museum, and the Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute. Additionally, EAM toured the Adwa Victory Museum, where he laid a wreath at the Adwa Victory Monument. At the Adwa Victory Museum, EAM addressed an audience of senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, and academics. In his public lecture, EAM highlighted India’s strategic partnership with Africa and emphasized the collective role of the Global South in shaping contemporary multilateral cooperation.
Considering the strong development partnership with Ethiopia, EAM announced that India will organize the next edition of Jaipur Artificial Limb Fitment Camp in Ethiopia. This follows the successful 2024 camp in the Afar region of Ethiopia, which provided prosthetic limbs to approximately 450 beneficiaries. Reinforcing India’s commitment to human resource development, India offered specialized training courses for Ethiopian officials in the field of forensic sciences, women and child development, and media governance.
While in Addis Ababa, EAM also chaired the Regional Heads of Mission conference, wherein Indian Ambassadors and High Commissioners from across Africa participated to deliberate on frameworks to further strengthen India’s partnership with the African continent.
The visit of EAM to Ethiopia was productive and provided renewed momentum to the India-Ethiopia Strategic Partnership, building on the visit of Honorable Prime Minister Modi to Ethiopia in December 2025, and the recent visit of Prime Minister Abiy to India in September 2026.