Okudzeto Ablakwa Clarifies Ghana’s Bid for BRICS Partner Status

​Ghana's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has provided additional context regarding the nation’s formal application to join the BRICS economic bloc. Speaking on TV3’s Saturday morning program Key Points on October 10, 2026, the Minister clarified that Ghana is seeking to join specifically as a Partner Country rather than a full member.

​Ablakwa highlighted that Ghana already maintains strong bilateral ties with individual BRICS members and view the alliance as a gathering of natural allies within one of the world's premier trading coalitions. He emphasized that the primary motivation behind the application is advancing Ghana's strategic national interests, in line with Directive Principles of State Policy outlined in Article 40 of the 1992 Constitution.

​Addressing concerns regarding potential diplomatic friction, the Foreign Minister reassured the public that joining BRICS will not compromise relations with traditional Western partners. He framed the move as a modern continuation of Ghana's historical policy of non-alignment. To illustrate, he noted how founding President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah skillfully navigated Cold War rivalries partnering with the United States to finance the Akosombo Dam while simultaneously collaborating with the Soviet Union to launch the Ghana Nuclear Reactor Project (GNRP).

​Ahead of the official announcement, Ghanaian diplomats engaged with European Union representatives to explain the economic rationale behind the decision. Ablakwa noted that the EU was informed of Ghana's goal to diversify its global trade and strategic partnerships without weakening existing international alliances.

@Volta Today