Ghana’s Cabinet has approved the country’s decision to apply to join BRICS, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has disclosed.
According to him, the decision forms part of the government’s efforts to expand Ghana’s economic options and diversify its international partnerships.
He said the move would also strengthen Ghana’s engagement with countries in the Global South and create opportunities for deeper South-South cooperation.
“The major highlight, which I am disclosing to the Ghanaian people for the first time, is that the Cabinet of President John Dramani Mahama has decided that Ghana will be joining BRICS,” he said.
Ablakwa explained that Ghana believes membership of the bloc, which brings together major emerging economies, could provide the country with alternative economic and diplomatic partnerships.
“We believe that 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, as far as South-South engagements are concerned,” he added.
The Foreign Affairs Minister’s disclosure signals Ghana’s intention to deepen its engagement with emerging economies as the government seeks to broaden the country’s international economic partnerships.
He also announced plans for Ghana and India to deepen cooperation in railway development, pharmaceuticals, ICT, defence, agriculture, science and technology.
He said the two countries had signed two Memoranda of Understanding covering agriculture and science and technology as part of efforts to strengthen their comprehensive partnership.
BRICS is an intergovernmental organization and geopolitical coalition comprising 11 core member nations—Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates—alongside 10 partner countries, representing roughly 49.5% of the global population and 40% of world GDP.
The group operates as an informal economic powerhouse designed to amplify the voice of the Global South and counterbalance Western-dominated institutions.
