Ghana’s potential decision to join Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) could provide the country with more diplomatic options and greater leverage as the global geopolitical landscape continues to evolve, International Relations Analyst Dr Nana Yaw Mireku has said.
According to Dr Mireku, joining the bloc of major emerging economies would enable Ghana to expand its international engagements beyond its traditional Western partners while remaining focused on its national interests. “One card that you are likely to score from being a member of BRICS is options,” Dr Mireku said on Eyewitness News on Wednesday, October 7, 2026.
He explained that BRICS membership could give Ghana greater flexibility in navigating changing geopolitical dynamics by creating opportunities to engage and negotiate with countries beyond the traditional Western sphere.
“What it means is that in these changing geopolitical dynamics, if you are a member of BRICS, it gives you options to interact, to negotiate globally beyond looking at a Western corridor or the Western window,” he said.
His comments come after Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa indicated that Ghana would soon submit an application to join BRICS. The move forms part of the government’s efforts to diversify the country’s international partnerships, create new economic opportunities and deepen cooperation with countries in the Global South.
Dr Mireku stressed that Ghana’s foreign policy should not be tied exclusively to any one geopolitical bloc, arguing that the country’s national interests must remain the primary consideration. “In the pursuit of our national interest, we do not have to be tied to a particular geopolitical block,” he said.
He noted that BRICS comprises countries with considerable economic and political influence, including China, India, Brazil and South Africa, and could therefore provide Ghana with opportunities to strengthen its engagement with major emerging economies. However, Dr Mireku cautioned against viewing BRICS membership as an automatic pathway to access new markets or financial benefits.
“It does not mean that once you are a member of BRICS, automatically these countries open their markets up to you,” he said.
