Ghana Cabinet Approves Formal Bid to Join BRICS

Ghana’s Cabinet has approved the country’s decision to formally apply for membership of BRICS, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has announced.

Ablakwa disclosed the decision on Tuesday, October 6, during a joint press briefing in Accra with India’s External Affairs Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

The minister said Ghana had already sought India’s support for its application, describing the proposed membership as part of President John Dramani Mahama’s strategy to diversify the country’s international partnerships.

“The Cabinet of President John Dramani Mahama has decided that Ghana should put in a formal application to join BRICS,” Ablakwa said.

He said joining the grouping would give Ghana more options for trade, investment and economic cooperation while strengthening its engagement with countries across the Global South.

Ablakwa stressed that the move would not mean Ghana was abandoning its existing relationships with institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, World Bank or traditional development partners.

Instead, he said the government wanted to broaden its partnerships and create more opportunities to support its economic transformation agenda.

The minister also linked the BRICS bid to Ghana’s goal of adding value to its natural resources rather than continuing to rely heavily on the export of raw materials.

India, Brazil and China were highlighted as important economic partners, with Ablakwa saying Ghana’s trade with India had grown significantly in recent years.

Jaishankar welcomed Ghana’s interest in joining BRICS and said India remained supportive of Ghana’s aspirations. However, he noted that membership would require consideration by the wider BRICS grouping.

“Obviously, this is an issue of collective consideration. So we have to see how that goes forward,” Jaishankar said.

BRICS began with Brazil, Russia, India and China before South Africa joined, giving the bloc its current name. The grouping has since expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.

Ghana’s announcement therefore marks the beginning of an application process rather than confirmed membership. The government will now need to formally submit its application and secure the support of existing members.