Africa’s largest gold producer wants to join BRICS.
Last week, Ghana's Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced that the country will seek formal membership in the economic trading bloc and is seeking India’s backing for its bid.
Ablakwa said BRICS membership will diversify the country’s economic and diplomatic partnerships.
“The Government of Ghana is determined to position Ghana as a reliable friend to all as we expand our geopolitical and economic frontiers, anchored fundamentally on our national interest and freedom of choice in this fast-evolving multipolar world.”
BRICS is an economic cooperation bloc originally made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. It has since expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates. The BRICS website lists Saudi Arabia as the 11th member nation; however, that country’s government calls itself “an invited nation.”
According to Business Insider Africa, BRICS nations will account for about 41 percent of global GDP in 2026. That compares to 28 percent for the G7 nations.
BRICS nations also hold significant natural resources. As of last year, the bloc accounted for roughly 42 percent of global oil output.
Ghana ranks as Africa's top gold producer. Based on Ghana Chamber of Mines data, the country produced 5.94 million troy ounces of gold in 2025. That's roughly 184.8 metric tonnes, making it the world's sixth-largest gold-producing country.
Ablakwa emphasized that Ghana is not trying to replace relationships with Western institutions or traditional trading partners. He said the country simply wants more options.
“BRICS offers us that opportunity to have options in development. We must have new friends.”
However, the country has clearly become wary of its reliance on the West, specifically the dollar. Ghana recently announced it has developed a yuan-based system to pay for eligible Chinese imports using Ghanaian cedis, effectively bypassing the U.S. dollar.
Bank of Ghana Governor Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama said the central bank wants to facilitate payments between Ghanaian importers and Chinese suppliers without requiring local businesses to source dollars first.
China accounted for approximately 22 percent of Ghanaian imports in 2025.
According to Business Insider Africa, Ghana also seeks to use “deeper relationships with emerging economies to add value to its natural resources.” The report noted that Ablakwa said the government wanted “resource sovereignty” and partnerships that would help Ghana move beyond exporting raw materials.
Meanwhile, China and India rank as the world's top two gold-consuming nations.
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