Accra seeks new international partnerships to boost investment, industrialisation and value addition as India expresses support for the country’s aspirations.
Ghana will formally apply to join BRICS after President John Dramani Mahama’s Cabinet approved the move, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has announced.
Speaking in Accra on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, Ablakwa said the decision was part of the government’s efforts to diversify Ghana’s international partnerships and expand opportunities for economic development.
He said the move aligned with the Mahama administration’s ambition to move beyond economic stabilisation towards transformative growth, supported by international cooperation, investment and industrialisation.
According to the minister, joining BRICS would give Ghana additional development opportunities while complementing its existing relationships with traditional partners, including the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and African multilateral financial institutions.
“We are not going to walk away from our traditional partners who value that relationship, but we must have new friends,” Ablakwa said.
The minister said Ghana’s economic agenda required partnerships capable of creating jobs, attracting investment and helping the country derive greater value from its natural resources.
He identified India, Brazil and China as important economic partners. Ablakwa also highlighted the growth in trade between Ghana and India, which he said had more than doubled from approximately US$3 billion in 2024 to about US$7 billion.
He said the proposed BRICS membership would strengthen Ghana’s cooperation with countries of the Global South and support the government’s economic transformation plans.
Ablakwa emphasised that Ghana wanted to move beyond exporting raw materials by developing greater capacity to process and add value to its natural resources.
The minister also argued that a wider range of international partners could give Ghana more choices in pursuing its development priorities and reduce the constraints associated with relying on a limited number of international institutions.
India Expresses Support
Ghana has formally sought India’s assistance in its bid to join BRICS. Ablakwa made the announcement alongside India’s Minister of External Affairs, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, who was visiting Accra on an official trip.
Jaishankar said India understood Ghana’s interest in the bloc and supported its aspirations and development goals. However, he stressed that membership would require collective consideration by existing BRICS members.
The minister’s remarks indicate that India’s support does not amount to automatic admission into the grouping.
Ablakwa said the government was preparing to submit its formal application and would seek the support of existing members. He also pointed to the longstanding diplomatic relationship between Ghana and India, including the historical ties between Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, and India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.
Both leaders played important roles in the Non-Aligned Movement, and the two countries have maintained cooperation in multilateral affairs since the early years of their independence.
What BRICS Membership Means
BRICS began as BRIC, comprising Brazil, Russia, India and China. South Africa joined in 2011, and the bloc subsequently expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.
The grouping now has 11 full members and provides a platform for cooperation on political and economic issues, including calls for reforms to international governance institutions.
Ghana’s proposed application reflects its efforts to broaden its economic relationships, attract investment and strengthen its position in international development discussions.
However, the country has not yet secured membership. Its formal application is being prepared, and the decision will depend on consideration by the existing BRICS members.
TNAM
