Ghana’s cabinet has approved a formal application to join BRICS, the country’s foreign minister announced on October 6 in Accra.

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa made the announcement alongside India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who is on the first leg of a three-nation tour of Africa that also covers Cote d’Ivoire and Ethiopia.

Ablakwa said Ghana had already approached India for support for its bid. Jaishankar said New Delhi was very sympathetic and supportive of Ghana’s aspirations, but noted that the decision rests with the wider BRICS grouping.

The minister framed the move as a bid to diversify Ghana’s partnerships and create more options for trade, investment and industrialisation. He stressed that Ghana would not abandon traditional partners such as the IMF and World Bank.

Bilateral trade between Ghana and India has grown from about $3 billion in 2024 to about $7 billion, Ablakwa said.

BRICS was founded by Brazil, Russia, India and China, with South Africa joining in 2010. It has since expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE and Indonesia.