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Ghana’s Cabinet has approved plans to formally apply for BRICS membership.
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Accra hopes to attract more investment, create jobs and accelerate industrialisation through the bloc.
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Ghana is seeking support from India and other existing BRICS members for its application.
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The government wants greater cooperation to boost local processing of Ghana’s natural resources.
October 8, (THEWILL) – Ghana’s government has approved plans to formally apply for the membership of BRICS, in a major move aimed at expanding the country’s economic partnerships and accelerating investment, job creation and industrialisation.
The decision was announced on Thursday by Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who said the Cabinet of President John Mahama had authorised preparations for the country’s application.
Ablakwa said the government was now preparing to submit the application and would engage existing BRICS members to seek their support for Ghana’s membership bid.
According to the minister, joining BRICS would provide Ghana with additional opportunities to attract investment, create employment, promote industrial development and strengthen the country’s capacity to derive greater economic value from its natural resources.
He said the proposed membership would complement Ghana’s existing international partnerships while giving the country more options in pursuing its economic development objectives.
“BRICS offers us that opportunity to have options in development”, Ablakwa said.
The minister identified India, Brazil and China as particularly important economic partners, highlighting the significant growth in trade between Ghana and India.
He disclosed that bilateral trade between the two countries had more than doubled, rising from approximately $3 billion in 2024 to around $7 billion.
Ablakwa said Ghana intended to leverage its expanding relationships with BRICS countries to attract investment into domestic industries and strengthen the processing of raw materials within the country.
“We want to add value to the natural resources that we have. And we want to work with partners who have the same shared history and shared commitments”, he stated.
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The government’s position reflects its broader objective of moving away from dependence on the export of raw commodities by encouraging domestic processing and manufacturing.
Ghana Seeks India’s Backing
As part of efforts to advance its BRICS ambitions, Ghana has already sought India’s assistance with its proposed accession.
Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, who was visiting Accra, expressed support for Ghana’s aspirations but stressed that the admission of new members remains a collective decision for BRICS countries.
“Obviously, this is an issue of collective consideration. So we have to see how that goes forward”, Jaishankar said.
Background
BRICS was originally established by Brazil, Russia, India and China, with South Africa joining the grouping in 2010. The bloc has since expanded its membership and emerged as an important platform for economic and political cooperation among emerging economies.
Its growing influence has attracted interest from developing countries seeking to deepen trade, investment and development cooperation with emerging economic powers.
Ghana’s decision to pursue membership comes against this backdrop, with Accra seeking to broaden its international economic options and strengthen cooperation with countries such as China, India and Brazil.
For the Mahama administration, the proposed BRICS membership is being positioned primarily as an economic strategy rather than a replacement for Ghana’s existing international relationships.
Ablakwa said cooperation with BRICS countries could open additional channels for investment, trade and industrial development while strengthening Ghana’s ability to pursue its economic transformation agenda.
The government is particularly interested in partnerships that can help develop industries around Ghana’s natural resources, enabling the country to capture more value locally and generate additional employment.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
