Ghana has announced plans to formally apply for membership of BRICS, a move the government says will help diversify the country’s international partnerships, attract investment and create new opportunities for economic transformation.
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa disclosed the decision on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, saying President John Dramani Mahama’s Cabinet had approved Ghana’s application to join the expanding grouping of major emerging economies.
Ablakwa made the announcement in Accra during the official visit of India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
He said Ghana’s decision was driven by the need to give the country more options in pursuing trade, investment and development partnerships.
According to the minister, Ghana’s potential BRICS membership would complement rather than replace its existing relationships with traditional development partners, including the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.
“We want to have options,” Ablakwa said, arguing that Ghana must build stronger partnerships across the Global South while maintaining its longstanding diplomatic and economic relationships.
The minister identified India, China and Brazil as particularly important partners, noting the rapid growth in Ghana’s economic relations with some of these countries.
He said Ghana wanted to move beyond exporting raw materials and develop partnerships capable of supporting industrialisation and greater value addition.
Ablakwa also linked the BRICS initiative to the government’s broader economic transformation agenda, including job creation, investment attraction and what he described as greater “resource sovereignty”.
India has emerged as an important diplomatic partner in Ghana’s bid. Ablakwa said Accra had already approached New Delhi for assistance with its application, while Jaishankar expressed understanding of Ghana’s interest and said the issue would ultimately require consideration by all BRICS members.
BRICS originally consisted of Brazil, Russia, India and China before South Africa joined, creating the acronym BRICS. The grouping has since expanded significantly, with Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia among its newer members.
Ghana’s move would also have significance for West Africa. Nigeria became a BRICS partner country in January 2025, while Uganda is also among the bloc’s partners.
Ghana’s potential entry could therefore increase West Africa’s representation in a platform focused on South-South cooperation and reform of global economic governance.
However, Ghana’s announcement is an application to join, not an admission into BRICS. Admission of new members is subject to consideration and consensus among existing BRICS leaders.
For Accra, the proposed move represents an effort to widen its economic choices at a time when Ghana is seeking stronger investment, industrial development and greater participation in emerging global markets.
