Ghana Wants to Join BRICS: Ready or Not?

Ghana's Cabinet has decided to apply for membership of BRICS, the grouping of large emerging economies. Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa made the announcement on Tuesday during the official visit to Accra of India's External Affairs Minister, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. He described it as news he was disclosing to the Ghanaian people for the first time.

What was announced, and what was not
Mr Ablakwa said the aim is to diversify Ghana's international partnerships, widen economic opportunities and strengthen cooperation with countries of the Global South. He said India's membership makes it a key partner in the bid, and that Ghana has already asked New Delhi for help with the application process.

The announcement came alongside two Ghana–India memoranda of understanding, on agriculture and on science and technology, and plans to deepen cooperation in railways, pharmaceuticals, ICT, defence, agriculture and technology.

Several things were not announced. Reports I found give no application date, no details on what category of membership Ghana will seek, and no response yet from BRICS members. It is also worth noting that the decision is to apply, and acceptance is a separate matter.

The bloc currently includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates, with Saudi Arabia's status described as disputed or evolving .

The case for going in
More options. For a country that has relied heavily on Western markets and lenders, a seat at a table with India, China, Brazil and others offers more partners and more bargaining power.

African company. Egypt, Ethiopia and South Africa are already inside. Ghana, a leader on the African Continental Free Trade Area, could act as a bridge between BRICS and West Africa.

Development finance. The BRICS-founded New Development Bank was set up to fund infrastructure and sustainable development in developing economies [5]. Membership of the bloc is not the same as access to the bank, and Ghana would have to examine how it could participate.

Soft ties already exist. Ghana News Agency joined the TV BRICS media network in July, a small but real sign of engagement.

The case for caution
Washington. The United States is Ghana's most sensitive relationship this year, according to the Rio Times, with tariffs on Ghanaian goods and duty-free AGOA access extended only to 31 December 2026.

Whatever the exact numbers, Accra must weigh how Washington and other Western partners will react to a BRICS application, particularly while a trade deal and AGOA renewal remain uncertain.

Who is in the room. BRICS is not a single-minded bloc. Russia and Iran sit alongside India, Brazil and the Gulf states, and the grouping's internal disagreements can be sharp. Ghana would be joining a club whose politics it does not control.

Benefits are not automatic. Membership brings dialogue, project opportunities and diplomatic standing, not guaranteed money or market access. The value depends on specific deals, financing terms and Ghana's own capacity to negotiate them.

Domestic readiness.
Ghana's economy is still recovering from its debt crisis. Any new commitments should be tested against fiscal discipline, transparent contracting and parliamentary oversight.

So, ready or not?
Ghana is ready to apply. Pursuing more partners is a legitimate foreign policy, and many African and Asian states hedge between blocs.

Whether Ghana is ready to benefit is less certain, and it will depend on the answers to questions the Government has not yet addressed:

What exactly does Ghana want from membership: trade, finance, technology, diplomatic weight?

Will Ghana seek full membership or a lighter tier of association with the bloc?

How will it protect its AGOA access, its relationship with the IMF and its Western trade ties?

Will Parliament and the public get to debate the decision before Ghana commits?

Mr Ablakwa's phrase that Ghana "will be joining" suggests confidence. The first test is whether BRICS agrees. The more important test is whether Ghana can turn membership into jobs, investment and a stronger voice for its people. Applying is the easy step.

Mustapha Bature Sallama
Medical/ Science Communicator,

Private Investigator, Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Analysis,

International Conflict Management and Peacebuilding. (USIP)
[email protected]
+233555275880

References
Citi Newsroom, "Ghana to formally apply to join BRICS – Ablakwa," 6 October 2026: https://www.citinewsroom.com/2026/10/ghana-to-formally-apply-to-join-brics-ablakwa/

MyJoyOnline, "Ghana to formally apply to join BRICS – Ablakwa," 6 October 2026: https://www.myjoyonline.com/ghana-to-formally-apply-to-join-brics-ablakwa/

Asaase Radio, "Ghana to formally apply to join BRICS": https://asaaseradio.com/ghana-to-formally-apply-to-join-brics-ablakwa/

ABC News Ghana, "Ghana to Formally Apply to Join BRICS – Ablakwa": https://abcnewsgh.com/ghana-to-formally-apply-to-join-brics-ablakwa/

New Development Bank (background), Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Development_Bank

African Times / TV BRICS, "Ghana Joins International Exchange of Information Via TV BRICS," 3 July 2026: https://www.atnews.co.za/ghana-joins-international-exchange-of-information-via-tv-brics/

Rio Times, "Ghana Geopolitics Explained 2026": https://www.riotimesonline.com/ghana-geopolitics-explained-2026/