Ghana's Cabinet Approves Formal Application to Join BRICS

Ghana's Cabinet has formally approved the country's application to join BRICS, the bloc of major emerging economies, Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced on October 6, 2026, during a joint press briefing with visiting Indian Foreign Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in Accra.

The decision aligns with President John Dramani Mahama's vision for economic growth under the "New Economy" framework, which includes seven approved policy pillars. Ablakwa stated that BRICS membership reflects Ghana's broader foreign policy goal to diversify international partnerships and partnerships and assert resource sovereignty—reducing dependence on raw material exports and gaining equal treatment from development partners.

BRICS, originally formed by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, has expanded significantly. Current full members include South Africa (joined 2010), Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (joined 2024), and Indonesia (joined 2025). An additional ten partner countries—Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam—joined in 2025. Together, BRICS members represent approximately 49.5 percent of global population, 40 percent of global GDP, and 26 percent of global trade.

Ablakwa expressed confidence that Ghana would secure support from BRICS members, citing existing excellent relations with founding members and newer members who maintain diplomatic missions in Accra. He emphasized that Ghana-India trade has more than doubled from approximately $3 billion in 2024 to about $7 billion currently, while China remains a major economic player in Ghana. The formal application process will proceed through diplomatic channels, with membership subject to acceptance by the broader BRICS grouping.

The move does not represent a departure from Ghana's traditional partnerships, Ablakwa clarified. Rather, he framed BRICS membership as providing Ghana with additional development options and opportunities to pursue sustainable economic growth, job creation, industrialization, and value-added production of natural resources.