🌍 A Symbolic Gesture of Friendship in Ghana’s Parliament
In a remarkable act of cultural diplomacy, two Ghanaian Members of Parliament wore traditional Indian attire - a pagdi (traditionally worn turban) and bandhgala (suit) to honour Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he addressed the Parliament of Ghana in a historic visit on July 3, 2025.
As the gesture was seen live by the Parliament and circulated on a prominent social media account with countless views, PM Modi, clad in a sharp blue suit, returned the sentiment with a smile and greeting to the MPs present in the chamber and perhaps one of the proudest moments of MP Banda's political career. The moment was lighthearted yet respectful, and an excellent representation of the growing India-Ghana diplomatic ties. It truly illustrated how culture can connect nations above and beyond words and policies, as with no need for translation, nor deviation from established deviance for a sense of reconciliation and partnership.
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🗣️ Speaker's Acknowledgment Adds Charm
As the end of the session brewed, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin brought humour and charm to the exchange by acknowledging the gesture. When referring to the MPs in presumably Indian dress, he said:
> "I know that the honourable member is quite desperate to visit India… and thank you for expressing your love for India, its people, and their culture."
This brought laughter as well as spontaneous applause across the floor and for PM Modi, a nod of appreciation.
🏛️ Why the PM's Visit is Important:
PM Modi's visit to Ghana is historically significant. This is the first time in 30 years that an Indian Prime Minister has spoken before the Parliament of the West African nation.
In his remarks, PM Modi pointed to:
Strengthening South-South cooperation Opportunities for collaboration in healthcare, technology, and education.
India's commitment to being a reliable development partner in Africa.
PM Modi's speech was well received and appears to mark a significant step in the effort to deepen India - Africa ties.
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🤝 A Masterclass in Soft Power Diplomacy
The clothing Ghanaian MPs wore seems like a minor gesture, but it can have profound diplomatic significance:
It indicates respect and recognition of India's culture and leadership.
It signifies a commonality of democratic values between the two countries.
It reinforces the role of culture and diplomacy in the present age.
In a world where the hard politics seem to get more ink than they should, moments like these remind us that soft power, in which actions speak a lot louder than policies, is powerful in it's own right.
📸 Viral Moment Quickly Gains Global Coverage
Images and videos of the MPs adorned in Indian attire exploded in popularity online.
Social media users in both countries took to the platforms to applaud a warm and respectful moment.
The moment generated by the MPs was picked up by major media outlets and a highlight of PM Modi's tour of Africa.
🧐 What Do You Think?
Does cultural diplomacy play a stronger role than we acknowledge?
Should more leaders engage in such symbolic gestures during state visits?
💬 Share your opinion in the comments.
🏷️ Hashtags
#ModiInGhana #IndiaGhanaTies #CulturalDiplomacy #PagdiAndBandhgala #SoftPower #NarendraModi #GlobalFriendship #IndianCulture #GhanaParliament #ModiAfricaVisit #DeshDuniya
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