Ghana applies to join BRICS as partner
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced the decision, citing expanded economic options and diversified partnerships.
Ghana's government under President John Dramani Mahama has applied to join BRICS as a partner, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. The move aims to expand Ghana's economic options and diversify international partnerships, Ablakwa stated on October 28, 2026. He revealed that the Cabinet decided Ghana will join the bloc, which includes major emerging economies like Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
Ablakwa believes partnering with BRICS will offer Ghana economic options, diversify its base, and foster cooperation within the Global South framework. The bloc brings together 11 major emerging markets and developing countries, serving as a platform for consultation on global and regional issues. However, concerns exist that Ghana could become a market for powerful BRICS economies and see its natural resources exploited without a clear industrial strategy.
Ghana's decision affirms its policy of non-alignment, a strategy previously used by President Kwame Nkrumah to secure support for the Akosombo Dam from the United States and the Ghana Nuclear Reactor Project from the Soviet Union. The Minority in Parliament has threatened a vote of censure against Minister Ablakwa over alleged financial irregularities concerning the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa.
Why it mattersGhana's application to join BRICS may offer new economic avenues but also risks exploitation of its natural resources.