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Sergey Lavrov backs Ghana's bid to join BRICS as a partner country
•2 min read•3 sources
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has pledged his country's full support for Ghana's application to join the BRICS economic bloc as a partner country. This commitment was made during a high-level meeting with Ghana's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, at the Third Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow. Lavrov promised to gather backing from all founding members of the bloc to facilitate Ghana's inclusion in the group.
The application to join the influential economic grouping, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, was formally approved by the Ghanaian Cabinet on October 6, 2026. The move signals a strategic intent by the government to strengthen economic ties and diversify its international partnerships among emerging global economies. Russia's pledge to lobby other founding members is seen as a vital diplomatic step in advancing Ghana's bid for partner-country status.
Minister Ablakwa expressed appreciation for the Russian support, framing the bid as a reflection of the Mahama administration's commitment to a diversified development strategy. He emphasized that the pursuit of BRICS partnership adheres to Ghana’s long-standing foreign policy of non-alignment, operating on the principle of being "friends of all and enemies to none." This approach seeks to ensure that the nation's international engagements are driven strictly by national interest and economic pragmatism.
Following the successful engagement with Russia, the Ghanaian government is expected to continue its diplomatic outreach to other BRICS member states. Securing a consensus among the founding members remains the primary requirement for Ghana to achieve its goal of becoming a formal partner within the bloc. The partnership is anticipated to provide Ghana with new avenues for trade, investment, and technological cooperation on the global stage.
