Mahama reaffirms Ghana’s non-aligned foreign policy amid BRICS partnership bid

President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to its long-standing non-aligned foreign policy, dismissing suggestions that the country is gravitating towards the East following his recent visit to Russia and its decision to pursue a partnership with the BRICS bloc.

The President maintained that Ghana’s diplomatic engagements with countries in the East should not be interpreted as a departure from its foreign policy principles, stressing that the country remains committed to maintaining friendly relations with all nations, irrespective of their political or economic orientation.

Speaking during an engagement with the Presidential Press Corps following his return to Ghana from a series of international engagements, President Mahama explained that the country’s decision to pursue BRICS partnership status was consistent with its non-aligned position and did not amount to an application for full membership of the economic bloc.

Quoting Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, he said: “We neither face East nor West; we face forward”, describing the statement as the foundation of Ghana’s approach to non-alignment.

He questioned why his recent visit to Russia should generate concerns about Ghana’s foreign policy direction, recalling that former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo also participated in the first Russia-Africa Summit held in Sochi, Russia.

President Mahama argued that Ghana’s diplomatic relationship with Russia was not a new development and should not be viewed as evidence of a shift towards the East.

He further disclosed that the recommendation for Ghana to pursue a partnership with BRICS originated from a ministerial committee established under the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration.

According to him, the committee submitted its recommendations to Cabinet, which subsequently considered and approved the proposal under his administration.

“The ministerial committee that sat and recommended that Ghana should accede to BRICS partnership was under Nana Akufo-Addo. We came and met their recommendation,” he explained.

The President stressed that his administration did not establish the committee but inherited its recommendations and proceeded to approve the proposal after Cabinet considered its merits.

President Mahama was particularly emphatic about the distinction between becoming a full member of BRICS and securing partnership status, insisting that Ghana was pursuing the latter.

He explained that BRICS partnership provides an opportunity for countries to strengthen economic and diplomatic cooperation with the bloc without necessarily becoming full members.

The President compared the arrangement to Ghana’s existing Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with European countries, arguing that such international partnerships are consistent with the country’s commitment to maintaining balanced relations with different regions of the world.

“We have those partnerships with many countries. For instance, with Europe, we have the Economic Partnership Agreements, EPAs. They are the same as the BRICS partnership,” he said.

He maintained that Ghana’s engagement with BRICS should therefore be understood within the broader context of its international cooperation strategy rather than as an indication of geopolitical realignment.

Reiterating his administration’s position, President Mahama declared that Ghana remained committed to being friends with all countries and enemies of none.

“We are not drifting anywhere. We are friends to all and enemies to none,” he stated.

His comments come amid growing international interest in BRICS, an intergovernmental grouping that has expanded its economic and diplomatic influence as countries seek alternatives and additional platforms for global cooperation.

Ghana’s pursuit of partnership status is expected to provide further opportunities for economic engagement, trade, investment and cooperation with member countries while preserving the country’s independent foreign policy position.

Meanwhile, the Government has announced progress towards re-establishing a national airline, following preliminary studies which have reportedly affirmed the viability of the proposed venture.

A roadmap for establishing the airline has been agreed, with the process expected to involve the selection of a strategic airline partner and a technical partner, securing an Air Operator Certificate (AOC), and determining the appropriate fleet and financing arrangements.

The development forms part of the government's broader efforts to restore Ghana's national airline capacity and strengthen the country's position within the aviation industry.

As part of the process, President Mahama on Monday held discussions with officials of Boeing Group, which is providing technical support and guidance towards Ghana's efforts to establish a new national carrier.

During the engagement, the Boeing delegation assured the President of its continued support throughout the various stages of the project, including the establishment and operational phases of the proposed airline.

The company's involvement is expected to provide technical expertise as Ghana works towards developing an airline capable of meeting international aviation standards and operating sustainably.

The identification of a strategic airline partner and a technical partner will be among the critical next steps, alongside regulatory approvals, fleet acquisition and the development of appropriate financing arrangements.

Although the Government has indicated that preliminary assessments support the commercial viability of the proposed airline, the successful implementation of the project will depend on securing the necessary partnerships, funding and regulatory approvals.