The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, announced that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has expressed strong support for Ghana's application to join BRICS as a partner country. This development occurred during a breakfast meeting with African Foreign Ministers at the ongoing Russia-Africa Summit. Ablakwa conveyed Ghana's appreciation to Lavrov for his country's backing. The meeting was part of a series of strategic discussions between African Foreign Ministers and the Russian Foreign Minister.
According to Ablakwa, Lavrov pledged to rally all founding BRICS members to ensure consensus support for Ghana's application. This commitment was made during a meeting where African Foreign Ministers discussed cooperation and development strategies with Russia. The Russian Foreign Minister's assurance is seen as a significant boost to Ghana's bid to join the bloc. Ghana's application to join BRICS is part of the government's efforts to expand the country's economic options and diversify its international partnerships.
The Government of Ghana, under President John Dramani Mahama, has applied to join BRICS as a partner country. The decision to apply was made by the Cabinet of President Mahama, with the aim of broadening Ghana's international economic partnerships. By joining BRICS, Ghana hopes to gain alternative economic and diplomatic partnerships. The bloc, which comprises major emerging economies, could provide Ghana with new avenues for trade, investment, and development financing.
BRICS is an international organization currently comprising Brazil, China, India, Russia, and South Africa. The bloc seeks to strengthen economic, political, and diplomatic cooperation among its members. Ghana already enjoys excellent relations with BRICS member countries, which makes its potential membership a natural fit. Joining BRICS could allow Ghana to diversify its economic base and partnerships, and enhance its cooperation within the Global South framework.
The concept of BRICS was first articulated by Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov in 1998. The bloc's inaugural summit was held in 2009, featuring the founding countries of Brazil, Russia, India, and China. South Africa joined the organization in September 2010, and the bloc was renamed BRICS. Since then, several countries have joined or been invited to join the organization, including Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates.
The Russian Foreign Minister's pledge of support for Ghana's BRICS bid is significant, given the bloc's growing influence in global affairs. Collectively, BRICS comprises more than a quarter of the global economy and nearly half the world's population. Ghana's potential membership could provide the country with new opportunities for economic growth and development. The country's Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has expressed optimism about the potential benefits of Ghana's membership.
The Government of Ghana remains committed to upholding the country's longstanding foreign policy of non-alignment and friendship with all countries. The country's bid to join BRICS is part of this effort to diversify its international partnerships and expand its economic options. With Russia's support, Ghana's application is likely to gain momentum, and the country could become a new member of the bloc in the near future.
Key points
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov pledges to rally BRICS members to support Ghana's application to join the bloc as a partner country.
- Ghana's application to join BRICS aims to expand the country's economic options and diversify its international partnerships.
- BRICS comprises major emerging economies, including Brazil, China, India, Russia, and South Africa, and seeks to strengthen economic, political, and diplomatic cooperation among its members.
