Ghana's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, announced on October 6, 2026, that the Cabinet has approved the country's bid to join BRICS. This decision aligns with President John Dramani Mahama's vision for transformative economic growth under the New Economy policy. BRICS, originally formed by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, is an intergovernmental organization of major emerging economies and developing countries aimed at increasing global influence and countering Western-dominated institutions.
The BRICS bloc has recently expanded to include new members. Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates joined in 2024, followed by Indonesia. Additionally, ten partner nations, including Belarus, Cuba, Malaysia, and Vietnam, joined as partner countries in 2025. Mr. Ablakwa made the announcement at a joint press briefing with visiting Indian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, in Accra.
According to Mr. Ablakwa, Ghana's decision to join BRICS stems from the need to diversify international cooperation and align with President Mahama's vision for economic growth. The Cabinet's approval is part of the government's strategy to move from stabilization to a transformative economic path. The New Economy policy has seven pillars, and joining BRICS is seen as a key step in achieving this vision.
Mr. Ablakwa expressed confidence that Ghana can count on support from BRICS members, citing the country's excellent relations with all founding members, including Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, as well as new members like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Iran. All these countries have diplomatic missions in Accra, which Mr. Ablakwa believes will facilitate Ghana's bid.
The decision to join BRICS does not mean Ghana will walk away from its traditional partners, according to Mr. Ablakwa. Instead, it offers Ghana options in its development agenda. The country values its relationships with traditional partners but seeks to expand its international cooperation. Ghana has significant trade and investment engagements with countries like India, Brazil, and China, which are already members of BRICS.
Trade between Ghana and India has more than doubled from around $3 billion in 2024 to about $7 billion currently. China remains a major economic player in Ghana, and Mr. Ablakwa believes that BRICS will provide opportunities for sustainable economic growth, job creation, and industrialization. The goal is to add value to Ghana's natural resources and work with partners who share similar commitments.
Indian Foreign Minister Dr. Jaishankar expressed support for Ghana's aspirations, stating that the government's bid to join BRICS is an issue of collective consideration. He emphasized that India has always been sympathetic to Ghana's goals and will consider how to move forward with Ghana's bid.
Key points
- The Cabinet of Ghana has approved the country's bid to join BRICS.
- Ghana seeks to diversify international cooperation and achieve sustainable economic growth through BRICS membership.
- The country has excellent relations with BRICS members, which is expected to facilitate its bid.
