Russia backs Ghana’s bid to join BRICS as partner country
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has pledged to engage the founding members of BRICS to build support for Ghana’s application to become a partner country. The move could advance Accra’s efforts to diversify its economic and diplomatic relationships.
Russia has pledged to rally support among BRICS founding members for Ghana’s application to join the bloc as a partner country, giving Accra diplomatic backing as it seeks to diversify its international partnerships.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made the commitment during a breakfast meeting with Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and other African foreign ministers at the ongoing Russia-Africa Summit, according to Mr Ablakwa.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, October 28, Mr Ablakwa said Mr Lavrov had assured Ghana of Moscow’s support and promised to engage the other founding members to build consensus in favour of the application.
The pledge marks a diplomatic boost for Ghana’s bid/
Ghana announced its intention to join BRICS on October 6, 2026, after Cabinet approved the move.
Mr Ablakwa disclosed the decision during a joint press briefing in Accra with India’s External Affairs Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
The government is seeking partner-country status as part of a broader effort to expand Ghana’s economic and diplomatic relationships and explore additional avenues for cooperation.
Russia’s commitment to engage other founding members could help Ghana build support for its application.
The bloc’s partner-country framework offers countries that are not full members a route to closer engagement with the group.
For Ghana, the application forms part of efforts to broaden its international partnerships and create additional opportunities for economic cooperation.
The eventual impact would depend on the terms of Ghana’s engagement with the bloc and the practical opportunities that emerge from any closer relationship.
Ablakwa reaffirms Ghana’s non-alignment policy
Mr Ablakwa said President John Dramani Mahama’s administration remained committed to Ghana’s longstanding foreign policy of non-alignment.
He described the approach as being guided by the principle of being “friends of all, enemies to none”.
The foreign minister said Ghana would continue to pursue international partnerships in its national interest while maintaining that diplomatic tradition.
The position suggests that Accra views engagement with BRICS as an effort to widen its options rather than abandon its existing diplomatic relationships.
Russia’s pledge is an early step in Ghana’s application process. The next significant development will be whether Moscow can secure broader backing among the founding members and whether Ghana’s request is accepted.