Ghana is seeking membership of BRICS as President John Mahama’s administration moves to broaden the country’s economic and diplomatic partnerships.
Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said the country’s Cabinet had approved plans to formally apply to join the bloc of emerging economies.
Ablakwa disclosed this on Tuesday during a visit by India’s External Affairs Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, to Ghana.
“The Cabinet of President John Dramani Mahama has decided that Ghana should put in a formal application to join BRICS,” Ablakwa told reporters.
He said Ghana had already approached India for support, describing membership as an opportunity to expand the country’s economic options and strengthen its ties with countries in the Global South.
“Joining India in BRICS will give us economic options, will diversify our base and our partnerships, and will also allow us to have more cooperation within the Global South framework,” the minister said.
BRICS was founded by Brazil, Russia, India and China and has expanded significantly in recent years, with the group seeking greater cooperation among countries in the Global South.
South Africa joined the bloc in 2010, while Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have also joined the expanded grouping. Indonesia became a full member in 2025.
Jaishankar said India supported Ghana’s ambition to join BRICS but noted that Ghana’s application would have to be considered by the wider membership.
Ghana’s move comes as countries in Africa and other parts of the Global South increasingly seek to diversify their international economic partnerships.
Discussion0