Indonesia yesterday marked the 80th anniversary of its independence, a historic moment that recalls the proclamation of freedom on August 17, 1945, by President Soekarno and Dr Mohammad Hatta.
The day is celebrated as a sacred occasion, symbolising the nation’s triumph over colonial rule and its steady progress as one of the world’s largest democracies and a rising economic power in Asia.
In a statement to commemorate the occasion, the Honorary Consul of Indonesia in Ghana, Mr Paskal A.B. Rois said the day reflected on the profound significance of the country’s independence.
He noted that eight decades on, Indonesia is not only celebrating freedom but also resilience, unity, and remarkable growth.
“Indonesia has grown to become the world’s third-largest democracy and the largest Muslim-majority country, a nation rich in diversity and culture, with an economy that continues to rise among the strongest in Asia. This milestone is a reminder that independence is not merely the absence of colonialism, but the presence of development, peace, and global cooperation,” he said.
Mr Rois further underscored the deep ties between Ghana and Indonesia, recalling the solidarity between the two nations during the era of independence struggles.
Ghana played a supportive role in Indonesia’s journey, and both countries were key participants in the historic Bandung Conference of 1955, where leaders such as President Soekarno and Ghana’s first Prime Minister, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, stood together to advocate for freedom, equality, and South-South cooperation.
That solidarity he said had since matured into a strong bilateral partnership covering trade, education, cultural exchanges, and diplomacy.
Beyond exporting goods and strengthening trade relations, he said Indonesia had been extending practical support to Ghana’s development, stressing that “Notably, Indonesia’s state-owned vaccine company, Bio Farma, in collaboration with Ghana’s private firm Atlantic Life Sciences, is playing a pivotal role in helping Ghana produce its first vaccines. Knowledge transfer has already begun, with a team from Atlantic Life Sciences visiting Indonesia for training, and the process of technology transfer is set to commence. This landmark cooperation will strengthen Ghana’s health sector and enhance local vaccine production capacity.”
In the field of education, Mr Rois stressed that Indonesia had long been supporting Ghanaian students with fully funded scholarships ranging from first degrees to master’s and PhD programs in various disciplines.
He said for the 2025 academic year alone, seven Ghanaian students were successfully qualified for the prestigious KNB Fully Funded Indonesian Scholarship and the beneficiaries were expected to be leaving Ghana for Indonesia in the coming weeks, with the Indonesian government covering their airfare, visas, tuition, accommodation, and monthly stipends.
“This is not just an investment in education but a bridge for people-to-people connections that will strengthen the future of our bilateral relations,” he added.
Mr Rois highlighted Indonesia’s readiness to deepen cooperation with Ghana in critical sectors such as trade, investment, agriculture, aviation, energy, digital innovation, and education.
He observed that both nations serve as strategic gateways—Indonesia in Southeast Asia and Ghana in West Africa and that closer collaboration can unlock opportunities for their peoples.
BY CLIFF EKUFUL