Vice-President of IMANI Africa, Kofi Bentil, says Ghana would benefit more from joining BRICS than from staying outside the group, despite the potential risks involved.
Bentil said the countries within the bloc control half of the world’s wealth, giving Ghana considerable economic opportunities if it aligns itself with them.
“We are better off aligning with this group even if there is risk. It is extremely important for our future,” he said on Key Points on TV3 on Saturday, October 10.
He also urged the government to study the experiences of other African countries that have joined BRICS before deciding how Ghana should proceed.
“We need a good policy; we need to learn from the experiences,” Bentil said.
The comments followed an announcement by Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa that Ghana’s decision to engage with BRICS was being guided by national interest.
“We are being strategic. We are looking at our national interest,” Ablakwa said on Key Points on TV3 on Saturday, October 10.
Ghana to begin as partner country
Ablakwa said Cabinet had decided that Ghana should initially join BRICS as a partner country rather than seek full membership immediately.
“We want to start as a partner country, and then we will gradually progress into full membership as the situation evolves,” he said.
He described the decision as part of the government’s plan to widen Ghana’s economic choices and diversify its international partnerships. It is also intended to strengthen the country’s relations with states in the Global South and create greater scope for South-South cooperation.
“The major highlight, which I am disclosing to the Ghanaian people for the first time, is that the Cabinet of President John Dramani Mahama has decided that Ghana will be joining BRICS,” he said.
Ablakwa said Ghana viewed membership of the grouping of major emerging economies as a way to develop alternative economic and diplomatic relationships.
“We believe that joining India in BRICS will give us economic options, will diversify our base and our partnerships, and will also allow us to have more cooperation within the Global South framework, as far as South-South engagements are concerned,” he added.
The minister also outlined plans for Ghana and India to expand cooperation in railway development, pharmaceuticals, ICT, defence, agriculture, science and technology.
He said the two countries had signed two Memoranda of Understanding covering agriculture and science and technology, with the agreements forming part of efforts to build a comprehensive partnership.
BRICS is an intergovernmental organisation and geopolitical coalition made up of 11 core members: Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.
The group also has 10 partner countries and represents roughly 49.5% of the global population and 40% of world GDP. It operates as an informal economic bloc intended to strengthen the influence of the Global South and provide a counterbalance to Western-dominated institutions.
