Russia has pledged its strong support for Ghana’s application to join BRICS as a partner country, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told African counterparts at a breakfast meeting on Wednesday October 28.
Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, disclosed the development on his X page after the meeting, held during the ongoing Russia-Africa Summit.
Mr Ablakwa said Mr Lavrov had also promised to seek the backing of all the bloc’s founding members in an effort to secure consensus support for Ghana’s application.
“I convey Ghana’s deep appreciation to my revered colleague and great friend,” he wrote.
African Foreign Ministers have been engaged in strategic discussions with the Russian Foreign Minister during the summit, as Ghana seeks to deepen and broaden its international partnerships.
Mr Ablakwa said the government’s approach would remain consistent with Ghana’s established foreign policy position.
“The Mahama Administration will continue to uphold Ghana’s longstanding foreign policy of non-alignment and friends of all, enemies to none as we pursue diversified development options in our national interest,” he said.
The announcement follows an earlier statement from Mr Ablakwa that Ghana’s Cabinet had approved the country’s decision to apply to join BRICS.
He said the application was part of the government’s efforts to widen Ghana’s economic choices and reduce its reliance on a narrower range of international relationships.
According to Mr Ablakwa, joining the grouping could also increase Ghana’s engagement with countries in the Global South and support closer 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.
BRICS brings together major emerging economies. Mr Ablakwa said Ghana viewed participation as a potential means of establishing alternative economic and diplomatic partnerships.
“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.
Russia’s stated support comes as Ghana advances its application and seeks agreement from the bloc’s founding members. The country’s government says the move is intended to expand its development opportunities while preserving its policy of non-alignment.
