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Ablakwa: Cabinet approves Ghana’s bid to join BRICS

The Crystal Clear LENS 1 month ago 2 min read

Ghana has taken a step towards joining BRICS after Cabinet approved the country’s plan to formally seek membership of the emerging economic bloc.

The decision was announced by Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, during a joint press briefing in Accra with India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

Mr. Ablakwa said the move is part of efforts by the government to expand Ghana’s international partnerships and create additional opportunities to support the country’s economic transformation.

“BRICS offers us that opportunity to have options in development agenda, you want to have options,” he said.

The Foreign Affairs Minister stressed that Ghana’s interest in BRICS should not be interpreted as a decision to distance itself from its existing international partners.

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“We value that relationship, but we must have new friends, and we must also begin to look at our historical partners like India, Brazil, China, already these are countries that we have enormous trade and investment engagements with,” Ablakwa said.

He said closer engagement with BRICS could support the government’s broader objective of moving the economy beyond stabilisation towards sustainable growth, industrialisation and job creation.

“So this is an important partner, and you know China, it’s also a very major economic player in our country. And so BRICS gives us that opportunity to transform this economy, and to align with the President’s vision, with the transformative agenda,” he said.

According to Mr. Ablakwa, the next step is for Ghana to submit a formal application and seek support from existing members of the grouping.

He expressed optimism about Ghana’s prospects, pointing to the country’s longstanding diplomatic and economic relations with both founding and newer members of BRICS.

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Dr. Jaishankar, for his part, said India was supportive of Ghana’s aspirations but noted that the application would have to undergo the required consideration by the group.

“We have always been very sympathetic and supportive of Ghana’s aspirations and goals. Obviously, this is an issue of collective consideration. So we have to see how that goes forward,” he said.

BRICS was originally formed by Brazil, Russia, India and China, with South Africa joining the grouping in 2010. It has since expanded to include additional members and partner countries.

Cabinet’s approval, however, does not mean Ghana has been admitted into BRICS. It authorises the government to formally pursue membership, which will ultimately depend on consideration and acceptance by the existing members.