Ghana to Apply for BRICS Partner Country Status – Ablakwa

Ghana has decided to apply for partner country status in the BRICS bloc as a first step towards possible full membership, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has disclosed.

Mr Ablakwa said the decision followed cabinet deliberations on a memorandum presented by the Foreign Ministry last year to assess Ghana’s relationship with the economic and political grouping.

He explained that the memorandum was referred to a cabinet subcommittee for further assessment before the entire cabinet debated the matter.

Speaking after a meeting with India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr S. Jaishankar, Mr Ablakwa said Ghana had formally conveyed its decision to begin the process of joining BRICS as a partner country.

India currently chairs BRICS, having taken over the rotating chairmanship from Brazil, providing an opportunity for Ghana to communicate its position to the Indian delegation.

“We are going to apply to join BRICS as partners. We want to start as a partner country and then we will gradually progress into full membership as the situation evolves,” he said.

Mr Ablakwa noted that Ghana already maintains close relations with key members of the bloc, which includes major emerging economies.

BRICS originated as BRIC, comprising Brazil, Russia, India and China, before South Africa joined as a full member in 2011.

The grouping has since expanded to include 11 full members, according to the minister.