Ghana’s Cabinet has approved a decision for the country to formally apply for membership of BRICS, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has announced.

Ablakwa disclosed this on Tuesday in Accra during a joint briefing with India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, who was on an official visit to Ghana.

He said the decision was part of the government’s efforts to diversify Ghana’s international partnerships, expand economic opportunities and strengthen cooperation with countries of the Global South.

According to him, joining BRICS would give Ghana additional options for pursuing its development agenda while complementing its existing relationships with traditional development partners.

“We are not going to walk away from our traditional partners who value that relationship, but we must have new friends,” he said.

Ablakwa said Ghana remained committed to its relationships with institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, as well as African multilateral financial institutions.

He said the government wanted partnerships that would support sustainable economic growth, create jobs, promote industrialisation and enable Ghana to derive greater value from its natural resources.

The minister said Ghana had already sought India’s support for its BRICS application, citing the country’s longstanding diplomatic and economic relationship with India.

He identified India, Brazil and China as important economic partners, noting that trade between Ghana and India had grown significantly in recent years.

Jaishankar said India was supportive of Ghana’s aspirations but stressed that membership of BRICS would require consideration by the wider grouping.

He said the bloc brought together countries from diverse regions that valued independence of thought and freedom of choice.

BRICS began as BRIC, comprising Brazil, Russia, India and China, before South Africa joined in 2011. The grouping has since expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Ghana’s government said the proposed membership would strengthen its engagement with emerging economies while providing additional avenues for trade, investment, industrialisation and economic cooperation.

The country is expected to formally submit its application and engage existing BRICS members as it seeks support for its bid.