Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has said that the government has decided to formally apply for Ghana to join BRICS, a geopolitical grouping of emerging economies comprising of Brasil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
According to the minister, the decision has been taken by Cabinet, but it’s not immediately known known when the processes would start.
Speaking during the official visit of India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, to Ghana, Ablakwa said India’s membership of BRICS made it a strategic partner in Ghana’s bid. He said the government had already sought India’s assistance with the application process and was hopeful of its support.
“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.
“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,” the minister said.
How does an application to join BRICS typically work?
In September, when India hosted the 18th annual BRICS Summit since assuming chairmanship of the bloc for the 4th time, one of the main items on the agenda was defining the future criteria for membership expansion.
At least 30 countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe (including Turkey, Malaysia, Vietnam, Nigeria, Algeria, Zimbabwe) officially submitted applications or expressed formal interest in attaining either full membership or official Partner Country status at the 2026 summit.
According to India publication, Firstpost, host nation India, supported by Brazil and South Africa, has advocated for a structured, criteria-driven approach rather than rapid, unregulated expansion.