With heightened geopolitical interest in building a new Global South architecture, Ghana’s newly elected administration should consider joining the BRICS alliance as a partner state.
The National Democratic (NDC) party, led by President John Dramani Mahama, while crafting future pathways and renewing commitments over democracy and governance, could initiate serious discussions relating to putting Ghana on another stage by ascending unto the BRICS platform.
Certainly, this step of ascending unto the BRICS platform would become a historical landmark for the Republic of Ghana. As is well-known, Ghana has attained prestigious status in a number of multilateral institutions and organisations, such as the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU), and the United Nations, and as of January 2025, it became the head of the Commonwealth Secretariat.
Unlike South Africa, which has acquired full-fledged membership status in 2011, and Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Uganda, which were taken into the ‘partner states’ category, Ghana similarly has all the fundamental requirements to become one of them in the BRICS alliance. In order to grasp the multifaceted advantages of joining this alliance and its implications, it is necessary to understand the basic definition and meaning of BRICS in the context of the changing world.
BRICS is not outright an anti-Western association; it stays open to mutual cooperation from countries with ‘like-minded’ political philosophy. Furthermore, BRICS is a non-Western association, and members have the freedom to engage their bilateral relations with any external country of their choice. The BRICS role as a sustainable and sought-after format for multilateral interaction primarily seeks a fairer world order based on the sovereign equality of its member states.
South Africa is strongly committed to its engagement in BRICS and has hosted two of its summits. In the future, Egypt and Ethiopia would have the chance to host BRICS summits, thus uplifting their role further on the BRICS stage.
The New Development Bank, established in 2015, has financed over 100 projects, with total loans reaching approximately $35 billion. The bank has further pledged to support development initiatives in developing countries in the Global South.
Ghana’s potential membership in BRICS could provide access to new markets and increased trade opportunities, helping boost economic growth by facilitating exports and attracting foreign investment. Joining BRICS would also offer Ghana opportunities to secure funding from the New Development Bank, facilitating infrastructure projects and sustainable development initiatives.
Freshly-elected President John Dramani Mahama has reiterated his commitment to unlocking the untapped potential, creating a resilient and inclusive economic model that empowers citizens and ultimately attracts global investments. Within the context of growing complexities of West Africa’s geopolitical changes, Ghana’s active involvement in BRICS will steadily enhance the dynamics of its traditional governance and extend that in the region and across Africa.
Joining BRICS could open doors to new trade opportunities, increased foreign investment, and access to development financing with fewer political strings attached. However, potential challenges, such as geopolitical risks and the need to balance existing diplomatic relations, must also be considered.
Article By: Kwasi Ogyampa
