Ghana is preparing to formally apply for membership of BRICS after Cabinet approved the country’s decision to seek entry into the influential grouping of emerging economies, in a move the government says will diversify its international partnerships and create new opportunities for trade, investment and industrialisation.
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced the decision on October 6, 2026, during a joint press briefing in Accra with India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, who was visiting Ghana.
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Ablakwa said the government sees BRICS as an opportunity to give Ghana greater options in pursuing development, while maintaining its existing relationships with institutions such as the IMF and World Bank and its traditional international partners.
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The minister said Ghana had already approached India for support for its BRICS ambitions. Jaishankar expressed understanding and support for Ghana’s aspirations but stressed that any application would ultimately require consideration by the wider BRICS membership.
For Ghana, the proposed membership is being presented as part of the Mahama administration’s broader economic transformation agenda. The government wants to attract investment, strengthen industrialisation, create jobs and secure greater value from the country’s natural resources.
Ablakwa also pointed to Ghana’s growing economic relationships with India, China and Brazil. He said Ghana’s trade with India had increased from about US$3 billion in 2024 to approximately US$7 billion, highlighting the potential for deeper commercial cooperation with emerging economies.
The minister further argued that stronger competition among international partners could give Ghana greater room to negotiate development and investment opportunities. He described the government’s approach as one focused on resource sovereignty, with Ghana seeking partnerships that can help transform raw materials into higher-value products.
BRICS began as BRIC, bringing together Brazil, Russia, India and China, before South Africa joined and the grouping adopted the BRICS name. The bloc has since expanded significantly, with Egypt and Ethiopia among the African countries that became full members in 2024, while Indonesia joined in 2025.
If Ghana’s application is accepted, it would become the fourth African country with full BRICS membership, following South Africa, Egypt and Ethiopia. Ghana’s admission, however, is not automatic and remains subject to the bloc’s collective decision-making process.
The move reflects Accra’s attempt to broaden its economic and diplomatic options at a time when global trade and geopolitical alliances are undergoing significant changes. Rather than presenting BRICS as a replacement for Ghana’s Western partnerships, the government says it wants to establish additional relationships that can support national development.
Ghana will now prepare its formal application and engage existing BRICS members in pursuit of support. The outcome could have important implications for the country’s future trade relationships, investment flows, industrial policy and diplomatic positioning within the increasingly multipolar global economy.
