Ghana will formally apply to join BRICS, the bloc of major emerging economies, after President John Dramani Mahama’s Cabinet approved the move, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
Ablakwa made the disclosure in Accra during the official visit of India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, describing it as news he was sharing “with the Ghanaian people for the first time.”
“The major highlight, which I am disclosing to the Ghanaian people for the first time, is that the Cabinet of President John Dramani Mahama has decided that Ghana will be joining BRICS,” the minister said.
The announcement comes barely a week after Ablakwa said Ghana was considering BRICS membership as part of a wider push to diversify its international partnerships and reduce dependence on traditional partners.
Ghana BRICS application: what Ablakwa said
According to the Foreign Affairs Minister, the decision is meant to widen Ghana’s economic choices and strengthen ties with other developing nations.
“We believe that joining India in BRICS will give us economic options, will diversify our base and our partnerships, and will also allow us to have more cooperation within the Global South framework,” he said.
He added that Ghana intends to leverage its existing relations with member countries to create new opportunities for economic cooperation, trade and investment.
Why India is key to Ghana’s BRICS bid
Ablakwa said India’s position as a founding BRICS member makes it a strategic partner in Ghana’s application, and Ghana has formally requested India’s assistance and support.
India holds the BRICS chairship for 2026 and hosted the bloc’s 18th summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on September 12–13, 2026.
Dr. Jaishankar said India remains committed to deepening its partnership with Ghana and indicated that Ghana’s BRICS interest would be considered within the broader bilateral engagement between the two countries.
Ghana-India MoUs signed during Jaishankar visit
Jaishankar arrived in Ghana on October 6 for a two-day official visit, the first leg of a three-nation Africa tour that will also take him to Côte d’Ivoire and Ethiopia.
During the visit, Ghana and India signed memoranda of understanding to deepen cooperation in several areas. Both sides also plan to expand cooperation in:
- Agriculture
- Science and technology
- Railways
- Pharmaceuticals and healthcare
- ICT
- Defence
Ghana and India elevated their relationship to a “Comprehensive Partnership” during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Ghana last year. Ablakwa, whom President Mahama has described as his hardest-working minister, welcomed Jaishankar as “a great friend of Ghana.”
Ghana to Apply to Join BRICS as Mahama Cabinet Approves Bid, Ablakwa Announces [VIDEO]
Who are the current BRICS members?
BRICS currently has 11 full members, plus ten partner countries.
- Founding members: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa
- Newer members: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia
- Total full members: 11
- Partner countries: 10, including African states Nigeria and Uganda
- Ghana’s status: Not yet a member or partner; formal application approved by Cabinet
If successful, Ghana would join Egypt, Ethiopia and South Africa as African members of the bloc. Details on the partner category are available from the official BRICS website.
What joining BRICS means for Ghanaians
Government says membership would give Ghana more economic options and a wider pool of partners for trade and investment.
The move fits the government’s stated agenda of ending raw material exports by 2030 and processing cocoa, gold and bauxite locally, which Ablakwa outlined in late September.
At that time, the minister said Ghana was looking for “win-win partnerships” and partners willing to “negotiate fairly, no exploitation.”
What happens next for Ghana’s BRICS membership
Ghana is expected to formally submit its application. Admission to BRICS is decided by consensus among existing members, and no timeline has been announced.
Government has not said whether Ghana will first seek partner-country status or go straight for full membership. Jaishankar continues his Africa tour in Côte d’Ivoire and Ethiopia after Ghana.
Key details at a glance
- Ghana’s Cabinet has approved a formal application to join BRICS.
- Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced it on October 6, 2026.
- The announcement came during Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar’s two-day visit to Ghana.
- Ghana has asked India, the 2026 BRICS chair, to support its application.
- BRICS has 11 full members and ten partner countries.
- Ghana and India signed MoUs covering areas including agriculture and science and technology.
- No timeline for Ghana’s admission has been given.
FAQs
Has Ghana joined BRICS?
Not yet. Ghana’s Cabinet has approved a formal application to join, but the country is not currently a BRICS member or partner country.
Why does Ghana want to join BRICS?
Foreign Minister Ablakwa says membership will give Ghana more economic options, diversify its partnerships and deepen cooperation within the Global South.
Which African countries are in BRICS?
South Africa, Egypt and Ethiopia are full members, while Nigeria and Uganda are partner countries.
Ghana’s decision to apply for BRICS membership marks a significant shift in its foreign policy, with the Mahama government betting that closer ties with emerging economies such as India will open new doors for trade and investment. The bid now depends on the formal application and the consensus of existing members.
