Ghana Moves to Join BRICS

Ghana’s Cabinet has approved plans for the country to formally apply to join the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) economic bloc, Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said.

Ablakwa disclosed the decision on Tuesday during a meeting with India’s External Affairs Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, saying Ghana had already sought India’s support for its application.

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

He explained that joining BRICS would help Ghana diversify its economic and diplomatic partnerships while creating more opportunities for cooperation with countries across the Global South.

The BRICS grouping was founded by Brazil, Russia, India and China and has expanded in recent years as an economic and diplomatic platform for countries in the Global South.

South Africa joined the bloc in 2011, while countries including Ethiopia, Iran and Indonesia have joined in more recent years.

Ablakwa said Ghana’s interest in the group was driven by the need to broaden its economic options and strengthen partnerships beyond its existing alliances.

“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,” he said.

Jaishankar welcomed Ghana’s interest, saying India supported the country’s aspirations but noted that any application would have to be considered by the wider BRICS membership.

Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are also among the countries that have joined the expanded BRICS grouping.