Russia to lobby BRICS members to back Ghana’s partner-country bid

Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says Russia has pledged to rally support among BRICS founding members for Ghana’s application to join the economic bloc as a partner country, quoting assurances by Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Mr Ablakwa announced the commitment in a Facebook post on Wednesday, October 28, after meeting Mr Lavrov and other African foreign ministers at a breakfast session during the ongoing Russia-Africa Summit.

He said Moscow had expressed its readiness to help build consensus within the grouping to advance Ghana’s application.

Ghana’s bid followed Cabinet approval on October 6, 2026. Mr Ablakwa subsequently announced the decision at a joint press briefing in Accra with India’s External Affairs Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

The proposed partnership forms part of the government’s efforts to expand Ghana’s economic and diplomatic options by strengthening ties with emerging economies and exploring new avenues for cooperation.

Mr Ablakwa said the administration of President John Dramani Mahama would continue to pursue such opportunities while upholding Ghana’s longstanding non-aligned foreign policy.

He reaffirmed the country’s diplomatic principle of being “friends of all, enemies to none”, stressing that international engagements would be guided by Ghana’s national interest.

BRICS is a grouping of major emerging economies that promotes cooperation in areas including trade, investment and development. Its partner-country arrangement allows nations that are not full members to engage more closely with the bloc.

Russia’s commitment offers Ghana diplomatic support as it seeks partner-country status, but broader backing from BRICS members will be needed to advance the application.