Ghana announces plan to apply for BRICS membership
Cabinet-backed move aims to broaden economic partnerships and support industrialization, but admission has not been confirmed.
Ghana has announced plans to formally apply for membership of BRICS, marking a proposed expansion of its economic and diplomatic partnerships. Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa disclosed the decision on 6 October 2026 in Accra during a visit by India’s External Affairs Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
Ablakwa said President John Dramani Mahama’s Cabinet had approved the decision to pursue membership. However, as of 7 October 2026, the reports reviewed confirmed the intention to apply, not that Ghana had submitted a completed application, received an invitation or been admitted to the grouping. The exact date of Cabinet approval was not disclosed.
Why Ghana wants in
The government has presented the proposed application as part of an effort to diversify Ghana’s international partnerships and create more opportunities for trade, investment and development. Ablakwa said the country wanted relationships that support sustainable growth, create employment and help industrialize the economy.
A central objective is to increase domestic processing of Ghana’s natural resources rather than continue relying on raw-material exports. “We don’t want a situation where we continue to export raw materials. We want to add value to the natural resources that we have,” Ablakwa said
His remarks also emphasised resource sovereignty and partnerships based on equal treatment. The government’s case for joining BRICS therefore extends beyond raising Ghana’s international profile: it links diplomatic diversification to domestic economic transformation.
Ablakwa also highlighted stronger cooperation with the Global South. He framed the initiative as an opportunity to work more closely with countries sharing similar development priorities and historical experiences.
Ghana has approached India for assistance with its proposed application. As a BRICS member, India is an important country for Ghana to engage with, but Ghana cannot determine the outcome independently.
India’s support and its limits
Jaishankar welcomed Ghana’s interest, noting that membership would require collective consideration by the grouping. His response signalled support for Ghana’s aspirations, not a guarantee of admission. The announcement came alongside wider Ghana–India discussions covering agriculture, science and technology, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, mining, railways, defence and digital technology. Two memoranda of understanding were reported in agriculture and science and technology. These bilateral initiatives are separate from the BRICS application and should not be interpreted as benefits already secured through membership.
The proposed application signals Ghana’s desire to broaden its foreign-policy options. Ablakwa made clear that seeking new partnerships did not mean abandoning existing development partners. The announcement therefore does not, by itself, establish a diplomatic break with Western countries or other longstanding partners.
Economically, the government hopes closer engagement with BRICS countries will support investment, industrial development and greater value addition. Those are policy objectives rather than confirmed outcomes. The reports reviewed did not announce a Ghana-specific BRICS financing package, trade agreement or investment commitment resulting from the proposed membership.
Diplomatically, joining could give Ghana an additional platform for cooperation with major emerging economies and for advancing its development priorities. Whether those opportunities translate into tangible gains would depend on admission and the partnerships or agreements that follow.
The next step is for Ghana to pursue the formal application process and seek support within BRICS. No confirmed admission timetable was given in the reports reviewed, and India’s response underscored that the decision rests with the grouping collectively.
