Kolkata, 08 October (H.S.) : In a significant step toward expanding scientific collaboration between India and African nations, the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), operating under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Ghana. The signing ceremony took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Accra, Ghana, on October 6, 2026.

The partnership aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s diplomatic vision to deepen India’s engagement with African countries through collaborative research, knowledge sharing, institutional capacity building, and mutual progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

On behalf of the ZSI, the MoU was exchanged by Sevala Naik Mude, Additional Secretary (Central and West Africa Division), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, and Prof. Francis Gbogbo, Dean of the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Ghana.

The ceremony was attended by high-ranking dignitaries, including External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and Ghana’s Minister for Education Haruna Iddrisu. Their presence highlighted the strategic importance both governments place on bilateral cooperation in education, scientific research, and environmental stewardship.

As part of the initiative, Dr. Dhriti Banerjee, Director of the Zoological Survey of India, and Dr. Mukesh Thakur, Scientist-D at ZSI, visited Ghana on official deputation to identify actionable research domains with the University of Ghana. Key areas earmarked for cooperation include the 'One Health' framework, epidemiological disease surveillance, biodiversity monitoring, conservation genomics, and the deployment of advanced molecular tools for ecological preservation and wildlife management.

Engaging with Ghanaian scientists and faculty, Dr. Banerjee articulated ZSI’s long-term roadmap for sustainable institutional ties. She underscored the necessity of collaborative research programs, exchange visits for young scholars, and joint strategies to address critical challenges in environmental sustainability and wildlife health. Surinder Bhagat, High Commissioner of India to Ghana, along with senior diplomats and university representatives, including Dr. Juliet Ewool Quansah and Prof. Ben Ofori, were also in attendance.

The MoU expands upon ZSI’s existing research footprint in Ghana, where it has contributed over the past three years to a biodiversity program—including a Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)-backed initiative on pangolin conservation led by Dr. Mukesh Thakur, focused on developing molecular techniques to counter illegal wildlife trade.

Through this formal agreement, the Zoological Survey of India and the University of Ghana aim to leverage their collective expertise to drive impactful scientific research and establish sustainable models for natural resource management across the region.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh