Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has announced that Cabinet under President John Dramani Mahama has approved a decision to formally apply for BRICS membership.
The Minister made the announcement on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at a joint press briefing in Accra with visiting Indian External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, who is on a three-nation tour of Africa.
According to Ablakwa, the move is part of Ghana’s strategy to diversify its international partnerships, widen economic options and deepen cooperation within the Global South framework.
“The Cabinet of President John Dramani Mahama has decided that Ghana should put in a formal application to join BRICS,” Ablakwa told reporters. 03ab
He said joining BRICS will give Ghana more economic options, support the government’s transformative agenda of jobs, industrialization and resource sovereignty, and allow for more cooperation with historic partners.
“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 added. 03ab
Ablakwa stressed that Ghana is not walking away from traditional partners like the IMF and World Bank.
“We want to have options. We are not going to walk away from our traditional partners. We value that relationship, but we must have new friends,” he said. 0e93
He disclosed that Ghana has already sought India’s support, noting that Ghana-India trade has more than doubled from about $3 billion in 2024 and is targeting $7 billion.
Responding, Indian Foreign Minister Dr. Jaishankar said New Delhi has been “very sympathetic and supportive” of Ghana’s aspirations, but noted that BRICS membership requires collective consideration by all members.
BRICS, originally formed by Brazil, Russia, India and China with South Africa joining in 2010, has now expanded to 11 members including Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and UAE.
